Breslin, Morse race underway for State Senate | News

COHOES - Albany County Legislator Shawn Morse kicked off his campaign for the State Senate Wednesday afternoon saying he wants to "restore integrity and effectiveness" to that institution. Meanwhile, Neil Breslin, who is currently serving his eighth term in office, says he relishes the opportunity to win re-election.

There were more than 200 supporters on hand Wednesday afternoon in front of the Ogden Mills Apartments in Cohoes when Shawn Morse officially launched his campaign for the new 44th Senate District that includes all of Albany County, and now parts of the city of Rensselaer and South Troy.

"It's not about where the district is," said Morse, "It's about the problems we face and the problems we face are deep."

Among the problems cited by Morse which he feels have essentially bee ignored by the state legislature are: mandate relief, redistricting, and bridge and road repair.

Breslin, who is gunning for his 9th term in office, says the last two legislative sessions have gone a long way toward shedding Albany's dysfunction label.

"I think most people view me as one of the leaders against corruption in the Senate and one of the leaders to fight for the rights of working men and women," said Breslin, the Senate's Deputy Majority Leader.

"The results are in the pudding and I haven't seen it," insists Morse. "I'm a county legislator getting blamed for a lot of things that we have no control over. I'm sick and tired of it. I'm going to tell the people where the problems are, let the people decide if they want to let Shawn Morse, with a fresh face, or somebody (Breslin) whose been there for 18 years and the problem still exists."

Morse, currently in his third term in the county legislature, has also been a Cohoes firefighter since 1989. He created the "Santa Comes to Town" Program which delivers toys to needy children on Christmas Eve.

Breslin is a lawyer and comes from a family with a long history of public service.

"I hope that the Breslin name over the years, Mike (former Albany County Executive), and Tom (County Court judge), and myself have stood for hard work, public service, and integrity."

Both Breslin and Morse say they're revved up and ready to go -- and both are confident they'll come out on top.

"As you can see, the people are making the noise," Morse pointed out at his highly attended campaign announcement event. "When people make noise, people start to listen, and I'm going to be that voice."

There are some political pundits who believe the redistricting of the 44th into Rensselaer County makes it a bit more "blue collar" which may be more friendly to Morse, a firefighter and union rep.

Neil Breslin points out that in a presidential election year there might be as many as 25,000 additional voters which, he believes, favors him.