Marc Molinaro in 2018 NY Governor's race


On Principles & Values: Grassroots elected official: mayor & County legislator

At the Kingston forum, which attracted about 150 people to the Best Western Plus hotel on Washington Avenue, Molinaro highlighted his career as a grassroots elected official who has served the village of Tivoli as mayor, Dutchess County as a legislator, and as a state assemblyman.

"In 1995, I was elected mayor of Tivoli," he said. "It was an honor, and it's not something I ever forgot. At that level of government, you learn the value of public service. You can't really hide from 1,300 people, so if you tell one person one thing, you'd better tell the other 1,299 the same thing, because they figure it out pretty quickly."

Molinaro said local government has an immediate impact on residents and that helping people matters at a personal level.

Source: Capital Region Spectrum News on 2018 New York governor race Aug 30, 2018

On Civil Rights: Sees protection for LGBT people as their basic civil rights

Molinaro considers gay marriage and protections for gay, bisexual and transgender people as basic civil rights.
Source: Long Island Newsday on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Jul 25, 2018

On Health Care: Vows to veto single payer health care system if elected

A top Democratic priority wouldn't advance if Marc Molinaro is elected governor. Molinaro vowed on Wednesday to veto legislation that would establish a single-payer health care system in New York. The bill, the New York Health Act, would create the universal health care system and fund it with tax increases on businesses and high income earners. Estimates have suggested that the state would need $90 billion annually to fund the single-payer system.
Source: The Auburn Citizen on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Jul 25, 2018

On Energy & Oil: Will explore fracking consequences in monitored testing

Molinaro dropped the f-word: "fracking." The gubernatorial hopeful said he'd back a "closely monitored" test of the practice. In 2014, Cuomo banned fracking--the use of horizontal hydraulic fracturing to extract gas and oil from shale rock. Yet it's permitted nearly everywhere else in America and is booming. Molinaro isn't suggesting a blanket green light for massive fracking across the state. He just wants the practice to be considered as a possible option.
Source: New York Post on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Jul 20, 2018

On Budget & Economy: First step to economic development is competent leadership

Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro has many ideas for improving central New York's economy and ensuring residents can stay here instead of moving to other places. But he would start with one concept: competently running state government. For economic development, he prefers a more local approach. Under his leadership, the state would work with communities to "define what their economic goals are and then really empower them to achieve them."
Source: The Auburn Citizen on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Jul 11, 2018

On Drugs: Look into why people become addicted and help them

Marc believes strongly that as a society we need to break through the stigma and address the struggles of those who are addicted to heroin, opioids, and other drugs with the dignity they deserve.
Source: 2018 New York governor campaign website MolinaroForNY.com Jul 4, 2018

On Education: Give back education decisions to local cities & towns

Marc understands how transformative education can be, and wants to empower New Yorkers across the state to take the reins in their local cities, towns, and villages.
Source: 2018 New York governor campaign website MolinaroForNY.com Jul 4, 2018

On Technology: Vows to repair infrastructure by cutting through red tape

Governor Cuomo has ignored our transit systems across the state, leaving them derelict and in disrepair. By cutting through red tape and bureaucracy, Marc Molinaro will get our public transit working again.
Source: 2018 New York governor campaign website MolinaroForNY.com Jul 4, 2018

On Immigration: Opposed to separating families of undocumented immigrants

Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro wants to end the family separation policy for undocumented immigrants at the border, but did not endorse Governor Andrew Cuomo's lawsuit against the federal government. "I don't know that the state should litigate, but the policy should come to an end," said Molinaro. "It is not America. It doesn't reflect my own values to have parents leveraged against children and children leveraged against parents."
Source: Spectrum News Central NY on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Jun 22, 2018

On Tax Reform: Cut taxes and reset New York's priorities

Molinaro accepted the Republican Party's designation for governor, pledging to cut taxes and "reset New York's priorities" if he's elected in November. And he vowed to reshape New York's income tax code while also promising a comprehensive plan to cut local property taxes.Details, however, were scarce: Molinaro promised them in the coming weeks. "In the coming weeks, we are going to lay out a bold property tax cut for New Yorkers that defenders of the status quo will despise," Molinaro said.
Source: Rochester Democrat&Chronicle on 2018 New York Governor race May 24, 2018

On Corporations: Cut costs on home-grown businesses to increase job growth

Whether it's Main Street here or a larger business there, New York maintains the highest tax burden of any state in the nation and has among the most restrictive regulatory structures anywhere in the country. What we need to do is drive down costs on businesses. Instead of advertising in Texas about how wonderful it is to move a business to New York, drive down costs for existing NY businesses. Seventy percent of new jobs are created by businesses that already exist in your community.
Source: Hornell Evening Tribune on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Apr 15, 2018

On Gun Control: Supports 2nd Amendment but with common sense restrictions

I support the 2nd Amendment. What I also support is common sense restrictions on those who have violent criminal behavior. We haven't struck at the root causes of why so many people are acting out in violent ways. I believe people on both sides of this issue want their communities to be safe. While I don't necessarily think we should be arming teachers with firearms, we should be arming them with the tools to identify kids who may show signs of wanting to act out violently.
Source: Hornell Evening Tribune on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Apr 15, 2018

On Environment: Proven track record backing the Hudson River PCB cleanup

Molinaro has been a supporter of the continued Hudson River PCB cleanup, citing additional remediation as important for a river that is a channel for transportation, commerce and recreation. Molinaro also is against proposed plans to expand the commercial shipping anchorages on the Hudson. Gary Bassett, mayor of the village of Rhinebeck, said based on Molinaro's track record he's optimistic Molinaro will support key environmental issues.
Source: Poughkeepsie Journal on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Apr 3, 2018

On Abortion: Accepts abortion as law; but believes in preserving life

On abortion rights Molinaro said he believes in "preserving life," "but I accept that there are certain situations where individuals need to be able to make that decision, but I also accept that this is settled law in the state." "I'd like us to work as a society, as a community, to reduce the times that abortion is chosen," he added. "I acknowledge that as a society we need to do our best to help people make as many responsible decisions as possible.
Source: Gotham Gazette on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Mar 31, 2018

On Government Reform: Take the corruption out of campaign financing

Molinaro wants you to believe in government again. You must elect him to be the next governor, eschewing the cutthroat, divisive, corrupt politics of Andrew Cuomo and opting for unity, dignity, and bipartisan problem-solving. The county executive said he'd "like to engage in a comprehensive reform of campaign finance." He said he's in favor of closing the LLC loophole, but only in combination with other reforms. Calling for "wholesale review and reform of campaign finance in the state," he said.
Source: Gotham Gazette on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Mar 31, 2018

On Families & Children: Path to Promise: comprehensive youth plan

Dutchess County's "Path to Promise" begins by funding and leading a comprehensive analysis and development of a plan of action for our youth. We have committed $500K to review programs and services, identify how they're offered, what are the defined outcomes, are we succeeding, and where are the gaps in service. We will consider every age group from birth to college, every community, and every provider--from churches to not-for-profits, schools to governments.
Source: Dutchess County website on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Feb 16, 2017

On Homeland Security: Give veterans the services and support they need

There is one group who deserve our unyielding gratitude: those who serve our country and return home face many challenges. Some veterans carry physical and mental scars from their service. Those of us who have never served can never know the effect. Some of the mental health resources I've discussed already will prove invaluable. The Veteran's Resource Center at DCC is providing critical help, and funding provided by Sen. Serino has enabled us to offer a peer-to-peer program for veterans.
Source: Dutchess County website on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Feb 16, 2017

On Crime: Don't ask about prior convictions in county jobs

People looking for employment in Dutchess County's government will no longer have to state on applications whether they have been convicted of a crime, dishonorably discharged or fired from a job. Molinaro said that the change is to "promote fairness and opportunity" by allowing them to be more objectively considered for a position. "There are people who have made mistakes in their lives, however, time passes and they have paid the price for those actions and learned from them."
Source: The Daily Freeman on 2018 New York Gubernatorial race Jan 22, 2016

The above quotations are from 2018 New York Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Page last updated: Dec 01, 2021