By VANESSA LANGDON
News Editor
As the New York State primary election draws near candidates from both sides of the aisle, republicans and democrats are making their way through the Capital Region.
“I think that it is good that they visit the Capital Region. New York is a hotly contested state with a lot of delegates at stake. Just a month or so back Hillary Clinton seemed to think the state would be an easy win, but her opponent seems to be making significant gains, so I guess she is not taking it for granted,” said Jenise Depinto, associate professor of history at Saint Rose.
Starting off the parade of would be presidents was Clinton with a stop at Cohoes High School Monday, April 4.
Clinton spoke to a packed gymnasium of her supporters Monday evening amidst an April snowfall – people still lined up outside for hours.
One of the Clinton supporters who waited in line for two and half hours for a glimpse and empowering message was Saint Rose Student Association President Carly Weller. The inclement weather never prompted Weller to consider not making the half hour drive to Cohoes from campus – even now that she’s on crutches.
“I was able to drive as my injury is to my left knee. I was able to park at the end of the road that was closed off. I actually pulled off a killer parallel parking job and may have gently bumped a Jeep in the process. It was only about half a mile walk into the school,” she said of her endeavor.
Weller felt it was time well spent to hear Clinton’s call to action. The former Secretary of State spoke about bringing jobs back to upstate New York, improving healthcare affordability, and education reform – speaking specifically about student debt.
“This election is one of the most serious consequential elections we’ve had in a long time,” said Clinton. “The differences between the parties are stark.”
The statement reigns true according to Scott Lemieux, an associate professor of political science at Saint Rose.
“Between the fact that incumbent presidents generally don’t face substantial primary challenges and the fact that many contest primaries are effectively over by mid-April, New York often doesn’t receive this level of attention,” explained Lemieux of the above average visits to the region this election season.
WHile making her stop Clinton took aim at Sanders plans for free college calling it an unrealistic goal – her vision is a debt free college education.
“I said look we need to have dent free tuition. If you’re wealthy you have to pay. I believe that is a fairer and more affordable way to pay for it,” Clinton said.
She also spoke about an adjustment to the existing system for paying off student debt.
“We are going to make it easier to pay down your student loan,” she said. “We are going to have people pay back according to the percentage of their income.”
That pay back system would be capped and all debt would be forgiven after 20 years of payment, Clinton said.
Clinton’s take on the rising cost of a college education was the biggest takeaway for Weller.
“I was really interested in her ideas about how to lower student debt and provide students with the opportunity to go to college without having to take out loans,” she said.
A popular frame of mind this election season is women encouraging other women to vote for Clinton because she would be the first female president of the United State.When asked this issue Weller was staunchly against the idea.
“I would love for a woman to be the President of the United States some day, but I will always vote for who I feel is the most qualified, no matter their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.,” she said.
For Weller it matters the policies a candidate puts forth, not the packaging.
“I support progressive women who continue to help advance opportunities for the rest of us,” she said.
The Clinton’s have connections to Saint Rose – both Hillary and former President Bill Clinton made a stop on the Saint Rose campus in 1992.
The stop made news in the bi-weekly student paper on campus at the time.
“The real story is Hillary. She is an influential, important person,” said Stephanie Pardo in an article about the Clinton’s visit written by Mark Spoor in 1992.
The Clinton’s were in the region campaigning for the former President’s first term – Mrs. Clinton did most of the talking as her husband went on to meet government officials behind closed doors.
The sentiment put forth by Pardo perhaps was a glimpse into the future as Clinton would come into a political persona in her own right – first as a New York State Senator and then as the Secretary of State under the Obama administration and now vying for the democratic presidential nomination.
Clinton’s rival in the race, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was in Albany on Monday April 11 at the Armory on Washington Avenue. That same day Republicans John Kasich and Donald Trump were in the region.
Kasich held two town hall events one at 2:30 p.m. in Troy the other in Saratoga Springs at 5:30 p.m. Republican frontrunner Trump was at the Times Union Center at 7 p.m.
Ted Cruz, a senator from Texas was at the Mekeel Christian Academy on Thursday in Scotia, the first of the republicans to make their way through the area.
“First, citizens in democracy have a civic responsibility to participate in the electoral process. Second, 18 to 23 year olds more than any other age group are notorious for not voting. Third, remember in the final analysis silence is consist. Finally, there are numerous critical issues that this election will decide that will impact on college students’ present and future. Education, energy, the environment, health care, reproductive freedom for women – especially young women – and the future Supreme Court appointments just to list a few,” said Benjamin Clansy, Associate Professor of Political Science at Saint Rose.
Clansy hopes to attend political events given the opportunity and encourages all students to do the same.
The belief in choices – no matter the party – is one that the Student Association on campus is trying to encourage the student body to become aware of. For many on campus this will be the first presidential election that they are eligible to vote for and being away from home necessitates the use of an absentee ballot. For most counties in New York state absentee ballots can be requested through each county’s board of elections website.
Weller, a Glens Falls native, will be voting by absentee ballot this election season. Absentee ballots for most counties must be requested seven days prior to the primary on April 19.
To vote in the New York State primary you must be registered to vote and be a registered member of either the republican or democratic parties.
“I think it’s important for all people who can vote to vote,” said Weller. “It is everyone’s responsibility to participate in our democratic system.”
