Published: July 08, 2008 08:00 pm      

POLITICS: Golisano’s back in the game

Sabres owner to finance political action committee

So, what do local political observers think about Rochester billionaire and Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano’s decision to get back into the political game?

In a word: Interesting.

“If he concentrates that money on a small, handful of races, it could be a significant factor,” said Kevin Hardwick, a political science professor at Canisius College who hosts the weekly radio show “Hardline with Kevin Hardwick” on WBEN radio.

Golisano on Tuesday announced plans to invest $5 million of his own money to form a political action committee to support candidates who shared his views on reforming state government.

During a press conference in Albany, Golisano officially launched his PAC, Responsible New York, which he says will provide campaign money use to reform-minded candidates.

Golisano aide Steve Pigeon said PAC funds would be given to Republicans, Democrats or any other third-party candidates based on their answers to a questionnaire that will ask their opinions on eight core issues, including limiting budget increases, ending unfunded mandates, reforming property taxes, reforming campaigns and elections and keeping government employee compensation equal with the private sector. Golisano also plans to setup another political committee that would accept campaign donations of up to $100 from individual citizens.

Pigeon said Golisano’s move is intended to counter the influence of other PACs and special interest groups that have thrived under what he called Albany’s current system of “dysfunctional” government.

“Tom feels that New York state government has been in the grasp of special interests for too long,” Pigeon said. “We can’t even get progress on fundemental issues.”

Pigeon said Golisano has not yet decided to support any one candidate, although he indicated he has had preliminary discussions with Kathy Konst, a Democrat running against Republican state Sen. Dale Volker in Erie County, and a few other candidates who share his goals. He expected the questionnaires to be made available to all candidates sometime in September.

Golisano, founder of Paychex and owner of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, ran for governor in 1994, 1998 and 2002 — when he spent $75 million to get 14 percent of the vote.

Golisano’s move comes at a time when Democrats are looking to take control of the state Senate, where the GOP currently holds a slim 32-30 majority.

“I agree with a lot of his platform and would be interested in reading the details of his questionnaire,” said incumbent state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Niagara Falls. “I support an agenda that moves WNY forward.”

Niagara County Republican Party Chairman Henry Wojtaszek said there’s no doubt Golisano’s money will have an impact on the upcoming election. He also said, if Golisano’s pledge to support candidates based on their own merits is to be believed, then the PAC could bode well for the GOP and the party’s candidates which he said share Golisano’s views on the need for reforms in Albany.

“I would hope that if he’s looking honestly at the candidates, he’s going to support our candidates,” Wojtaszek said.

Authorized committees are limited to accepting a total of $150,000 in contributions from an individual. They also limit the interaction a contributor can have with a politician or another committee and the influence the individual has over the use of their contribution. While Pigeon insisted what Golisano intends to do is completely legal under the current rules, State Board of Elections officials said Tuesday they would review the legality of the proposal once all the necessary paperwork has been finalized.