By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Which political party can do more for the 148th Assembly District is a central question in the race between Great Valley Supervisor Dan Brown, a Democrat, and Republican Joe Sempolinski of Canisteo in Steuben County.
Democrats are in the majority in the Assembly, controlling 100 seats to 48 for Republicans. They have controlled the Assembly since 1975. The last Democrat to represent Cattaraugus County in the Assembly was Daniel B. Walsh, who served from 1983 to 1987.
Brown, who has been supervisor in the town of Great Valley for 19 years, thinks it’s time the 148th District — Cattaraugus, Allegany and part of Steuben counties — elected another Democrat to get a taste of what it’s like to be in the majority again.
Sempolinski sees it differently. With nearly twice as many Republicans as Democrats, he said, “I think the Republican Party more closely reflects the values of (district) residents.”
The district has a total of 19,617 enrolled Democrats, 37,740 Republicans, 1,866 Conservatives and 19,120 blanks or voters who are not affiliated with any political party.
And Sempolinski said he served in the Republican minority in the last Congress — the most junior of Republicans — and was able to work with Democratic members to pass legislation, most notably disability legislation. He’s not sure how much a Democrat from rural Western New York would be able to accomplish given that most Democrats are from the New York City area.
Brown counters that he would be a voice for the district and would not be afraid to speak up to have rural needs balanced in legislation advocated by New York City Democrats. “A member of the minority is going to have a very difficult job getting anything done for us,” he said. “I’d love to be in the majority for a change to see what we can do for our counties.”
In addition, Sempolinski served as district manager for former Rep. Tom Reed, and later served as Giglio’s chief of staff — both before and after his 112-day stint as 23rd District congressman. He said he’s the only candidate who has already represented all the towns and cities in the 148th Assembly District. He’s concerned that there’s nothing to attract young people into returning to their Southern Tier hometowns after graduating from college.
Brown said, “Look at the Southern Tier counties. They are all Republican. We are being overlooked. Joe Giglio and George Borrello — even Kathy Young when she wasn’t in the Senate majority — couldn’t get anything done” with Democrats controlling both houses and the Governor’s Office.
Brown said he has been concentrating on Allegany and Steuben counties because he thinks Cattaraugus County voters from both parties know who he is. Brown, a former dairy farmer, ran against Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, R-Gowanda in 2012 and against State Sen. George Borrello four years ago.
Brown has served on both the Cattaraugus County Planning Board and the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, and is chairman of the Cattaraugus County Supervisor’s Association.
Brown said he did not register for taxpayer-funded campaign financing as did Sempolinski. He said “I don’t think it’s right that taxpayers fund campaigns.” It was designed to make races more competitive. “I’ve raised about $10,000 for my campaign.”
Sempolinski, who has received more than $168,000 under the campaign finance law, said Brown had every chance to sign up for the same program. “It’s not the way I would have constructed it, but I am going to play by the rules as written,” Semploinski said. “It’s far too lucrative. It has one positive aspect though, “it has a lot of transparency.” Giglio voted against it, he noted.
Another issue Brown has raised is that he feels this is a Cattaraugus County seat and that Sempolinski is at the eastern end of the 148th Assembly District in Steuben County. “I’ve lived in Cattaraugus County all my life,” Brown said, adding that the county has always been home to its assemblyman.
“I’m going to miss Giglio,” Brown said.”He’s a quality person, but being in the minority, there’s not a lot he could do. I’m giving voters a chance to vote on their concerns about being in the majority.”
Sempolinski said he served as district manager to former Rep. Tom Reed, and later served as Giglio’s chief of staff — both before and after his 112-day stint as 23rd District congressman after Reed’s resignation. He said he’s the only candidate who has already represented all the towns and cities in the 148th Assembly District. “It’s a breadth of experience no other candidate can bring to bear.”
Semploinski emphasizes his personal ties to Cattaraugus County. His wife graduated from Portville High School and lived in Genesee. They were married at St. Mary’s Church in Olean, their daughter Maddie was born at Olean General Hospital and his wife worked as a teacher at Hinsdale Central School.
As a gun owner and a hunter, Brown said he is a Second Amendment supporter who supports laws to protect those rights.
And bail reform is not working, Brown said. It needs to be addressed. Sheriff’s deputies and state police refer to it as catch and release, he noted. “A lot of it is because of drugs,” he said. “We need better drug treatment programs. We are losing our young people to this epidemic.” Addicts should be held until they can get treatment, he added.
One thing that would boost the Southern Tier’s economy would be the completion of the Route 219 expressway through Cattaraugus County. Brown thinks it should have been completed a long time ago. The first thing I’d like to see is a bypass around Ellicottville,” he added.
“We’re in the homestretch of the campaign,” said Sempolinski. “We’re into early voting. This final push is interesting. He’s taking his family out on the campaign trail, which last weekend led to Pumpkinville.
If elected, Sempolinski said he would be the only assemblyman to have served in Congress in 110 years.
