Democratic candidates for the 21st Congressional District support term limits for US Supreme Court justices.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, does not.
Matt Castelli, one of two candidates running in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, mentioned his support in a recent interview with Mountain Lake PBS and broached the subject in a phone interview Thursday.
“We’re not doing things that reflect the will of the people,” said Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official who lives in Glens Falls.
Castelli said he also supports term limits for members of Congress.
“I support term limits for the Supreme Court and any office,” Matt Putorti, a Whitehall lawyer, the other candidate in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, said in a telephone interview Wednesday.
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Stefanik said in a phone interview Wednesday that he opposes term limits for Supreme Court justices.
“I support the Constitution. These are appointments for life,” he said.
Establishing term limits for judges is a concept that has been discussed in response to recent controversial Supreme Court decisions, such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Another concept that has been discussed is adding more judges to the court, a concept commonly known as “judicial packing.”
Castelli, Putorti and Stefanik said they oppose adding more judges to the court.
In other political news from the region:
looking ahead
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, as she runs for re-election, is looking ahead to the next session of Congress.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Stefanik said she and fellow House Republican leaders will unveil a “Pledge to America” when the House returns from its August recess.
“This is focused on a strong economy,” he said.
Stefanik said the plan will outline the House Republicans’ legislative strategy for the upcoming session, if, as she expects, Republicans win control of the House in the midterm elections.
He said Republicans are not canceling the rest of the current session, but want voters to know their plans.
“The American people deserve to know what we’re going to prioritize,” he said.
Donating celebrities
Filmmaker Michele Mower of Texas, producer, writer and director of the made-for-TV movie “Preacher’s Daughter,” which was the top-rated 2012 season on Lifetime Movie Network, contributed $1,500 to the candidate’s campaign Democrat Congressman Matt Castelli on August 15. , according to a notice submitted to the Federal Electoral Commission.
The campaign is in the period where contributions of $1,000 or more must be reported within 48 hours of receipt.
Castelli is already on the general election ballot on the Moderate line, an independent line that established his campaign.
Endorsed by Stec
State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, announced Aug. 12 that the New York State Police Benevolent Association, a union, has endorsed his re-election bid for a second term
Stec is running for the 45th Senate District against Democrat Jean Lapper, a certified public accountant and financial advisor from Queensbury.
Endorsement of joy
Republican congressional candidate Liz Joy announced Monday that Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner has endorsed her candidacy.
“Liz is the right candidate to address the needs of this district, especially during the challenging times we face in this state and country,” Hayner said in a news release.
Joy is running in the 20th Congressional District, which is held by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam.
Rostilav Rar, an immigration attorney from Albany, is challenging Tonko in an Aug. 23 Democratic primary.
Tonko already has the Working Families line in November.
Castelli guarantees
Local 236 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of Albany and Malta, a union of more than 1,600 electrical, telecommunications and broadcasting employees, endorsed Democratic congressional candidate Matt Castelli on Friday.
“Bringing jobs to upstate New York, investing in apprentices and recognizing workers’ rights to organize are just a few of the things that make Matt Castelli the right choice,” said Michael Mastropietro , business director of the union.
Democratic Senate candidate Andrea Smyth endorsed Castelli on Wednesday.
“Matt Castelli is the right candidate for the voters of New York State to send to Congress,” Smyth said in a news release.
Smyth, a longtime Troy advocate for health policy and family issues, is running against Republican Jake Ashby, a state Rep. from Castleton, for an open seat.
Catalfamo wants transparency
Republican state Assembly candidate David Catalfamo criticized a state panel reviewing changes to liquor control regulations for closing much of its first meeting to the public.
“It is unthinkable, but so typical of Albany, to go behind closed doors and hold a secret meeting about legislation that will affect the livelihoods of thousands of New Yorkers,” Catalfamo said in a news release. “They need to open this meeting to the public who pay their salary.”
The state Commission to Examine Alcoholic Beverage Control, established as a measure in the state budget, held its first meeting Thursday.
“Someone from the (beverage) industry called me and asked, ‘Why was this meeting closed?'” Catalfamo said in a follow-up phone interview.
Catalfamo, an economic development official and writer from Wilton, is running against Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, in the 113th Assembly District.
Maury Thompson covered local government and politics for The Post-Star for 21 years before retiring in 2017. He continues to follow regional politics as a freelance writer.
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