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Unshackle Upstate ranks Griffo, Aubertine, Scozzafava, Russell

Posted 9/7/10

Unshackle Upstate, a political organization that says it represents about 75 business and trade organizations, has released its rankings of all 212 state legislators. Among 62 senators, District 47 …

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Unshackle Upstate ranks Griffo, Aubertine, Scozzafava, Russell

Posted

Unshackle Upstate, a political organization that says it represents about 75 business and trade organizations, has released its rankings of all 212 state legislators.

Among 62 senators, District 47 representative Joseph Griffo, Republican from Rome, placed ninth with 83 points. Democrat Darrel Aubertine of Cape Vincent, of the 48th District, placed in the top half of the organization’s rankings, at 28th, with 45 points.

Among the state’s 50 Assembly members, Dede Scozzafava, of Gouverneur, a Republican who is not running again in the 122nd District, placed 33rd with 54 points. Addie Russell, a Democrat from Theresa representing the 118th District, received 18 out of a possible 100 points, and still ranked in the top half, at 62nd.

The group gave legislators up to 100 points depending on how they voted in committee and on the floor on bills supported or opposed by the group, on whether or not they sponsored bills favored by the group or opposed by them, or on how they voted on the budget, with 25 points for voting against the spending plan, zero points if they voted for it.

Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate, says he wants voters to review the rankings and vote in accordance with them.

The roughly 75 members of the political advocacy group are mostly chambers of commerce, including the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, along with business alliances, local Realtors’ organizations, the City of Utica, and other local, state and national organizations.

Their web site is at www.unshackleupstate.com.