Sen. Metzger faces challenge from GOP’s Martucci
Incumbent Democrat Jen Metzger will square off against Republican Michael Martucci in the election for New York state 42nd Senate District seat.
Metzger, a Rosendale resident, is seeking a second two-year term. Martucci, a resident of Westtown in Orange County, is making his first bid for elected office.
On his campaign website (martucci4senate.com), Martucci criticizes Metzger’s positions on issuing ranging from bail reform to the environment, casting her as a “progressive state senator” who is more aligned with New York City Democrats than the residents of the 42nd District, which comprises parts of Delaware, Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties.
Martucci says on his site that has “a proven record for helping pass state laws that protect our families,” including as a member of the New York School Bus Contractors Association board and a citizen advocate, working with
Democrats and Republicans to enact a law that disqualifies a person from driving a school bus if the individual was convicted of aggravated assault or promoting a sexual performance of a child, among other crimes.
Martucci is the former owner of a school bus company.
He also said he will say “no” to new taxes if elected and that he opposes a “Medicaid for all” approach to health care in the state.
Martucci also has pledged to oppose regulations that he says make it difficult for workers and job creators. On the environment, he said he would support “sensible initiatives that balance our freedoms with the needs of our communities.”
Metzger defends her record while in office, and on her campaign website ( jenmetzger.com) points to 26 bills she spearheaded that have been signed into law, noting all were passed with bipartisan support.
On education, Metzger says the state needs to balance education funding statewide with progressive tax reform so that area schools get their fair share of state aid while seniors and working families get property tax relief.
Metzger said that as chairwoman of the senate’s Agricultural Committee, she has worked to preserve working farms and open space throughout the 42nd District and said she supports direct purchasing opportunities for large institutions, and greater access to land, capital and markets for local farmers. As a state, she said, “we must also be forward-thinking and create opportunities to grow new agricultural products.”
Metzger says regulations for small businesses should be flexible and size-appropriate, and said she will, if reelected, work to create more opportunities for larger purchasers to shop locally.
Metzger also said she is sponsoring a bill to ban pay-to-play contributions and corporate contributions. “Unlike almost every other legislator in Albany, I have never accepted one cent from lobbyists, corporations or industry groups,” she says on her website.
A former Rosendale town councilwoman, Metzger and her husband have three sons. She holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University.
Martucci is a part-time farmer. He holds a bachelor of science degree and a master’s in business administration from Marist College in Poughkeepsie. He and his wife have three children.
In Ulster County, the 42nd Senate District includes the towns of Rosendale, New Paltz, Gardiner, Shawangunk, Wawarsing and Denning.