<\/p>\n
Democratic candidates for the 21st Congressional District support term limits for US Supreme Court justices.<\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, does not.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“We’re not doing things that reflect the will of the people,” said Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official who lives in Glens Falls.<\/p>\n
Castelli said he also supports term limits for members of Congress.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Stefanik said in a phone interview Wednesday that he opposes term limits for Supreme Court justices.<\/p>\n
“I support the Constitution. These are appointments for life,” he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Another concept that has been discussed is adding more judges to the court, a concept commonly known as “judicial packing.”<\/p>\n
Castelli, Putorti and Stefanik said they oppose adding more judges to the court.<\/p>\n
In other political news from the region:<\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, as she runs for re-election, is looking ahead to the next session of Congress.<\/p>\n
In a phone interview Wednesday, Stefanik said she and fellow House Republican leaders will unveil a “Pledge to America” \u200b\u200bwhen the House returns from its August recess.<\/p>\n
“This is focused on a strong economy,” he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He said Republicans are not canceling the rest of the current session, but want voters to know their plans.<\/p>\n
“The American people deserve to know what we’re going to prioritize,” he said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The campaign is in the period where contributions of $1,000 or more must be reported within 48 hours of receipt.<\/p>\n
Castelli is already on the general election ballot on the Moderate line, an independent line that established his campaign.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Stec is running for the 45th Senate District against Democrat Jean Lapper, a certified public accountant and financial advisor from Queensbury.<\/p>\n
Republican congressional candidate Liz Joy announced Monday that Saratoga County Clerk Craig Hayner has endorsed her candidacy.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Joy is running in the 20th Congressional District, which is held by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam.<\/p>\n
Rostilav Rar, an immigration attorney from Albany, is challenging Tonko in an Aug. 23 Democratic primary.<\/p>\n
Tonko already has the Working Families line in November.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Democratic Senate candidate Andrea Smyth endorsed Castelli on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
“Matt Castelli is the right candidate for the voters of New York State to send to Congress,” Smyth said in a news release.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
The state Commission to Examine Alcoholic Beverage Control, established as a measure in the state budget, held its first meeting Thursday.<\/p>\n
“Someone from the (beverage) industry called me and asked, ‘Why was this meeting closed?'” Catalfamo said in a follow-up phone interview.<\/p>\n
Catalfamo, an economic development official and writer from Wilton, is running against Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, in the 113th Assembly District.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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