Last week, Gary Parenti formally announced his candidacy for the 138th District state Assembly seat currently occupied by Francine Del Monte. The two will face off in September's Democratic Primary.
Born in Niagara Falls and a product of the Niagara-Wheatfield school system, Parenti has worked as a political consultant in any number of statewide and national campaigns, and founded the Niagara Civic Club.
He sat down with the Reporter for his first wide-ranging interview following the announcement.
Q. What made you decide to run?
A. I'm 40 years old, and all I've pretty much known in this community is stagnation and decline. Every natural resource and asset this community has goes up to Albany, and we get nothing in return. The hydropower, the state parks, the airport. I grew up near the airport and it's the same now as when I was a kid. There's just been no movement. I've been pretty fortunate to have worked in the state legislature, in both the Assembly and the Senate, and I've watched our current representative both in Albany and here in her backyard. She's been missing in action, and silent when she should be vocal. I think I could be a stronger voice, and that's why I'm running.
Q. You're running in the Democratic Primary. Has this caused any bad blood, and are you planning to run on other party lines?
A. I'm going to shoot for all the minor party lines and, hopefully, I'll pick a couple off. I'm not going to take the Republican line because whoever wins the Democratic Primary will represent us in Albany next year.
Q. There's a perception, rightly or wrongly, that Assemblywoman Del Monte is overly concerned with the problems of New York City because of her relationship with (Assembly Speaker) Sheldon Silver. How are you going to be able to go to Albany and make the concerns of the Niagara County voters known?
A. I personally think there is a lot of discontent in Albany by people throughout upstate New York. It's clear that we're not getting our fair share of economic growth. This whole election cycle is going to be all about changing Albany. I think you're going to see a big turnover in the state legislature, whether it's Democrat running against Democrat or Republican against Republican, it's all about change. I can disagree with people and still be able to work with them, and I won't be a rubber stamp for anyone.
Q. While he doesn't represent Niagara Falls, Sen. George Maziarz has put together a powerful machine here in the county. What's your relationship with him like?
A. My relationship with the senator is going to be a working relationship because that's what it's got to be. He's a strong political player in Albany and he understands Albany. He's a force in the Senate, but he needs an effective partner in the Assembly to ensure that the needs of this region are adequately addressed.
Q. Abortion seems to be becoming a states' rights issue, with legislation passed in South Dakota, Tennessee and Mississippi that would severely limit the practice. As a Catholic and a Democrat, what are your feelings on the issue?
A. I'm pro-choice. It's that simple. I disagreed with (Del Monte's) original vote on the morning-after pill, particularly in cases of rape or incest, and don't believe that government has any role in what is a very personal decision for women.
Q. When you announced your candidacy, the cross-section of people who attended the event was pretty remarkable. You had more than 200 people, and it seemed as though your support crosses a lot of lines, young and old, economic and racial.
A. We had a good group of people. I was blown away by the attendance. City Councilmen Sam Fruscione and Bob Anderson, (County Legislator) Renae Kimble, we had people from every neighborhood in the district. I try and connect with people, and am really proud of all the friendships I've made here over the years.
Q. Why do you think the opening of the Seneca Niagara Casino hasn't resulted in the sort of spin-off development here that a lot of people were expecting?
A. What happened with the casino was that our government, our representatives should have been fighting on behalf of the taxpayers. They didn't put any limits on what the Senecas could do. They should have been capped on the number of rooms at the hotel, the number of restaurants, how much retail and all these things. I want them to make money running the casino. But I also want our taxpayers to be able to make money themselves. The economic impact this casino could have had we don't have because our legislators were not standing up and fighting for this community.
Q. What can we do about it now?
A. One thing we can change is that the local community is getting 25 percent of the 25 percent of slot machine revenue Albany gets, and that should be the other way around. They got it backwards. That could and should be changed.
Q. Since the legislature passed the smoking ban, any number of small neighborhood taverns have gone out of business. And regardless of what the politicians say, the people who are in the bar business will tell you that the ban has directly affected their livelihoods. In the meantime, you can go to the casino and smoke to your heart's content. What's the solution?
A. Again, this goes back to our leadership. Everyone has to be on a level playing field and if (Del Monte) was truly looking out for the needs of the community, this situation never would have developed. The Senecas don't have to pay any taxes, our guys do. The Senecas have the ability to smoke, our guys don't. This needs to become a tourist town and those things have to change. Whether it's in the context of an entertainment district where you'd waive the sales tax and smoking ban for nightclubs and taverns, or you might even be able to do it citywide. It's something we're definitely looking at.
Q. Finally, why should people vote for Gary Parenti?
A. (Del Monte's) been in a position of power here for nearly 30 years, 20 years as (former assemblyman) Joe Pillittere's chief of staff and now looking for eight in the Assembly. And what's happened to the district in those years? I think there are a lot of people my age, a whole generation that's just fed up with Niagara Falls not succeeding. They realize that something needs to change. Albany is not recognizing that, despite our wealth of assets and resources, they're strangling us.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | March 28 2006 |