Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino and State Comptroller candidate Robert Antonacci were at the Erie County Conservative Party summer picnic yesterday, looking to ignite enthusiasm among local political activists.
The two need these activists to help win uphill races, Astorino against incumbent Governor Andrew Cuomo and Antonacci against incumbent State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
Astorino made an earlier visit to Central Terminal to show the old train station as an example of the economic condition he wants New York to move away from.
"We've got an unemployment rate that lags behind the nation. We've got ten of the worst 20 metropolitan areas in the country," Astorino said.
"Their outlook going forward for the next decade is at the bottom of the barrel. We should not settle for this. Buffalonians should not settle for this. New Yorkers should not settle for this."
Astorino says he wants to cut state spending, state taxes and state regulations to improve the state's economic climate and fight back against people and jobs flowing to Texas and Florida.
Antonacci suggests using the state's many pension systems for investments and push conversion of state pensions into 401Ks and defined benefit plans to ease the load on taxpayers.
