Jan 03, 2007 — In 1995, Watertown lawyer Mike Schell invited Upstate Democratic leaders to his house to brainstorm ways to make the party more relevant in rural New York. He co-founded the Democratic Rural Conference. Since then, Democrats have celebrated striking victories, from Senators Schumer and Clinton's election - and re-election - to Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine's success in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties, to Governor Eliot Spitzer's commanding victory last November. Newly installed State Democratic chairwoman June O'Neill, from St. Lawrence County, calls Mike Schell "the godfather" of rural New York Democrats. Now Schell takes on an influential position in the Spitzer administration, senior advisor for intergovernmental affairs to Governor Spitzer. He told David Sommerstein the new Governor will take new steps to bring the Upstate economy out of its perpetual recession.  Go to full article

Jan 02, 2007 — Governor Eliot Spitzer took his oath of office outdoors at the State Capitol before dozens of dignitaries and hundreds of ordinary people who had braved heavy rain to hear his speech. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Dec 18, 2006 — The Democrat who twice failed to defeat Republican Congressman John McHugh says it's "highly unlikely" he's run again. Dr. Bob Johnson says a successful candidate would have to win organized labor's support and raise more money. David Sommerstein reports.  Go to full article

Nov 20, 2006 — Eliot Spitzer will face a number of challenges when he becomes New York's Governor. One of the first is the state budget, which the governor-elect has already said is riddled with problems. Karen DeWitt reports from Albany.  Go to full article

Nov 17, 2006 — The New York Times is reporting this morning that governor-elect Eliot Spitzer will push for the ouster of fellow Democrat Alan Hevesi. Hevesi, the state's comptroller, was forced to repay tens of thousands of dollars following the revelation that he used a state employee to chauffeur his wife. Fall-out also continues from the controversial leak of state police documents that described a domestic incident involving Republican congressman John Sweeney. The union representing New York state police says an investigator is being wrongly demoted because he's being blamed for leaking a trooper's report about a the incident. The story broke in the press just days before the November seventh election, which Sweeney lost to Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand. Brian Mann spoke about the ugly political climate with Fred LeBrun, veteran columnist with the Albany Times-Union.  Go to full article

Nov 16, 2006 — A new poll conducted since Election Day finds Democrats Elito Spitzer, the new governor-elect, and Hillary Clinton, the newly re-elected Senator, are riding high. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Nov 16, 2006 — This week, Brian Mann has been looking at the struggles of the Republican Party in New York state. The GOP lost every statewide race last week. Even here in the North Country, Republicans faced a stiff challenge, losing two House seats. Gerald Benjamin is dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science and a political science professor at SUNY New Paltz. He's also a St. Lawrence University alum. Benjamin says New York could evolve to resemble Massachusetts, where Democrats dominate the state's political culture.  Go to full article

Nov 16, 2006 — The political landscape in the U-S changed overnight last week. The Democratic takeover will mean a big shift in policy-making efforts in Washington. The Environment Report's Mark Brush has more on how environmental issues played out in the election, and what this new Congress might do on the environmental front.  Go to full article

Nov 15, 2006 — Hamilton County, in the central Adirondacks, voted a straight Republican ticket last Tuesday. It was one of only two counties in the state to do so. The other was rural Wyoming County, south of Rochester. The rest of New York -- and even much of the North Country -- voted staunchly Democratic. As Brian Mann reports, even many Republicans in this very conservative part of the state say their party has to expand its appeal.  Go to full article

Nov 13, 2006 — Last Tuesday, kids across the U.S. were talking with Americans about the importance of voting. The national project was organized by journalist and writer Sue Halpern, who spends much of year in Johnsburg, in the central Adirondacks. Halpern says it was a chance for students to hear from people who see voting as a duty and a crucial part of their lives. But as Brian Mann reports, their idealism played out this year against one of the nastiest and most controversial campaigns on record.  Go to full article