One word: change
Rick Dollinger did it all at the Greece Dems BBQ last week, manning the grill, reciting passages from Shakespeare…and sitting down with us for an extended interview.
Dollinger is passionate about changing the culture of Albany and bringing jobs to Monroe County. As a longtime member of the Democratic Senate minority he saw firsthand how much is wrong with the current situation in Albany and how difficult — if not impossible — it is to make changes without having a Democratic majority in the State Senate. That’s why he feels it’s imperative that he beat Joe Robach in the heavily Democratic 56th district.
Here’s our interview — it’s long but we think the entire thing is worth reading.
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RT: Where were you born?
Dollinger: Rochester, grew up in SE side of the city. I went to the U. of Toronto as an undergraduate. I was a newspaper reporter in Boston for a while, at the Newton-Waltham News Tribune. Then I went to Law School in Albany. But I’d never been inside the State Capitol until I was elected. From 1993-2002, I was in the New York State Senate.
RT: You lost your seat when Joe Robach switched parties and ran against you. What’s the back story on that?
Dollinger: Robach’s Assembly district changed after the 2000 census. Charlotte, the northern portion of the city, was given to Morelle. So Joe Robach lost Charlotte. He switched parties to Republican and ran against me. I decided to go back into the private sector, I ran for a judgeship, I didn’t win so I went back to the private sector.
RT: What did you do in the private sector?
Dollinger: Lawyer at Underberg and Kessler. I worked as an attorney the whole time I was in the Senate—I was still practicing law. I was an employer, 8 or 9 employees, so I’m used to paying people’s health care.
I paid for that out of my own pocket. I believe in paid family leave. You see the importance of this when you employ people yourself.
RT: Do you Support rules reform?
Dollinger: Yes! I’m a big fan of the Brennan Center report’s recommendations. The Brennan report came out about two years ago and judged the New York State legislature to be the most dysfunctional in the entire country.
We’ll implement Brennan report’s recommendations within 60 days if Dems take control. I favor the Clean Money, Clean Elections Bill but my sense is there’s stronger support for the NYC version.
RT: You’ve said before that the biggest issue for the Rochester area is jobs. What type of jobs do you think we can bring to the area?
Dollinger: My grandfather was an inventor, he invented a centrifugal filter. We made things. We need to preserve the manufacturing jobs, and I’d like to also [have] a smart cities initiave. Rochester is still one of the smartest cities, one of the highest percentage of PhDs in the nation. We have to stop being shy about saying it. High-tech, green, telephone, optics, imaging jobs, these are all things we can do. I like to say “We’re the city that put the image in imagination.”
RT: Specifically what types of things can be done if the Senate is flipped that can’t be done otherwise?
Dollinger: Where do I start? Lead paint legislation, women’s rights, sex education, IDA reform, increased civil rights for gays — a marriage equality act, we already talked about rules reform. The death penalty will cease to be an issue in NY. I was the guy who killed the death penalty in NY. Joe Robach is the second leading advocate for the death penalty in the entire state, after Joe Bruno. I would also repeal the Rockefeller drug laws. It gives people a chance for rehabilitation. As a former juge who saw the effects of drug abuse I am in favor of that.
In many cases, we’re talking about bills that have already passed the Democratic Assembly and are stalled in the Senate. Remember — I was in the minority the entire time I was in Albany. Everything changes if the Senate flips.
RT: What is your opinion on the Braddock Bay controversy?
Dollinger: I was the leading advocate for water issues along the south shore of Lake Ontario. I can say Braddock Bay is an issue of commerce and jobs. If boats can’t get in, that takes jobs away. Opening up the bay needs to be a priority. Someone should be able to find funding for it. Roger Robach (Joe Robach’s father) always made the dredging of the bay a priority.
I took on the international joint commission and the St. Lawrence river control board and made sure they took into account the interests of the south shore residents in determining water levels.
RT: If there is one issue that distinguishes you from Joe Robach, what is it?
Dollinger: One word: change. You will never get it from him. He likes Albany the way it is. I don’t. I will give you change.
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Good interview. I like his honesty on the death penalty — it just exists so politicians can say we have it, it isn’t being used.
Rick Dollinger is just this good. Incredible interview - incredible candidate. He’s got my vote.
It doesn’t get any better than Dollinger - he actually gets it!
Thanks for the fantastic interview! Rick will be an excellent legislator, I can’t wait to have his representation in Albany.
I was recently at an event, I won’t say where, with Robach in attendance. He walks in, so pleased himself, and acted like we should all be thrilled that he graced the event with his presence. It’s this sense of entitlement that so irksome.
Rick is so right….It is time for change!