State senator keeps her silence on debates
Opponent says Daphne Jordan“not willing to defend her record”
State Sen. Daphne Jordan did not respond to the League of Women Voters’ request to participate in a forum with her opponent in this year’s election.
Charlotte Druschel, co-chair of the league’s voter services committee who organizes the forums, said she did everything she could to schedule the Halfmoon Republican, who represents the 43rd district, to debate her Democratic opponent, Patrick Nelson.
“I started trying in August,” she wrote to the Times Union in an email. “I emailed (the same email used by Vote411 to which she responded), left several messages on the campaign phone and also tried to message through the campaign Facebook page. She never responded.”
Jordan and Saratoga County Republican Chairman Carl Zeilman also did not respond to the Times Union to ask about why Jordan was apparently ignoring the debate request.
Now her opponent is using it in his campaign against the incumbent. “She is not willing to defend her record,” Nelson said. “She is the least productive senator in the history of the district. She has the least amount of (lead sponsorships) on bills passed.”
Her website indicates that in her first and only term she has successfully sponsored two bills: extending the bed tax in Hudson and authorizing Mechanicville to hire an attorney who resides outside of the city limits.
The job went to Saratoga County attorney and Halfmoon town attorney Lyn Murphy. Jordan, a member of the sen
after the Columbus Day holiday, he said. The district will send a reopening update Friday.
All campus facilities will be closed and sports competitions and practices will be on pause this week, he said. Coaches will reach out with updated practice information.
Breakfast and lunch will continue to be available free of charge to students this week.
For more information about remote instruction plans and Chromebook pickups this week, click here.
Menands schools report case
MENANDS — A person connected to the Menands school district has tested positive for coronavirus, the district announced Saturday.
In a letter to families, Superintendent Maureen Long and Principal Jennifer Cannavo said they are unable to release personally identifiable information about the person but confirmed it was someone who did not have direct contact with students.
District leaders are working with the Albany County Department of Health to help supply information that may be needed for contact tracing purposes, they said. The health department will reach out to anyone who may have been exposed with information about quarantining and testing, they said.
The district, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade, will remain open for in-person instruction, Long and Cannavo said.
“We understand that this news can be unsettling and cause for concern,” they wrote. “Please remember that the best plan for addressing the COVID -19 virus is to remain informed and follow these steps to help contain the spread of the virus: Keep at least a 6-foot distance between you and others when out in the community — even if you don’t feel sick or have any symptoms. Wear a snugfitting surgical or cloth face mask that covers your nose and mouth. Stay home when you are sick. Call your healthcare provider in advance of a visit. Limit visitors to your home.”
This is the district’s first known case of the virus since since school started up again this fall.