CUNA News Now: New York league pleased with election results

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LATHAM, N.Y. (11/9/06)--New York credit unions are happy with the results of the state-level elections Tuesday.

Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat who gained national fame while fighting corrupt accounting practices in Wall Street as New York State Attorney General, was elected governor. He filled the spot being vacated by George E. Pataki, who did not run for re-election, by defeating Republican John J. Faso.

Representatives from Erie County CU talked with U.S. Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R-Buffalo/Niagara), third from left, at a recent legislative reception hosted by the Buffalo and Niagara chapters of the New York State Credit Union League. Reynolds won his race in Tuesday's elections. (Photos provided by the New York State Credit Union League).

"We're pleased with the election of Eliot Spitzer as governor," said Amy Kramer, vice president, governmental affairs for the New York State Credit Union League (NYSCUL). "It's a positive change overall."

Newly elected Lt. Gov. David Paterson is the former state Senate minority leader. "David Paterson in particular has been very supportive of credit unions," she told News Now.

"With the new executive administration, we should see overall more support for credit unions. Hopefully they will be realistic in what is expected of credit unions," she added.

The state legislature escaped the Democratic sweep that occurred with the congressional elections and "very few seats changed hands." Republicans narrowly held their narrow margin in the state Senate, which is unusual in a "very blue state." Of the 62 seats, four new members were elected.

The Democrat-led assembly gained three more seats in an already powerful majority, said Kramer. State-wise, "our entire legislative branch was up for re-election."

State Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte (D-Niagara) stopped to chat with representatives from Niagara's Choice FCU at a legislative reception held recently by the Buffalo and Niagara chapters of the New York State Credit Union League. She was re-elected in Tuesday's election.

"Now the No. 1 job will be getting to know the administration and the lawmakers. Spitzer likely will be hard to reach because he's famous, and many groups are trying to extract good will and time with him. Our best bet will be to go through the State Banking Department."

Part of that job will be "to educate the new state lawmakers right off the bat. We have CU 101 for new lawmakers and their staff. We'll provide information to start their office files, give them a directory and a list of credit unions in their district, and explain what a league is. We'll schedule meetings so the legislators can visit credit unions in their districts. Some chapters will hold legislative events." Kramer said.

"We've had really good luck with that, making sure that credit unions are one of the first, nice, friendly faces they see," she added.

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