The race for the 150th State Assembly District between Barrie Yochim, Jamestown Area Meals on Wheels executive director endorsed by the Democrat, Independence and Working Families parties, and incumbent Andrew Goodell, endorsed by the Republican, Conservative parties, has been in stark contrast to the nasty campaign we have witnessed for Congress between Tom Reed and Martha Robertson.

The candidates have been respectful of each other’s positions and focused on issues and values they espouse. If only every campaign could be handled so. Such a campaign makes it easier to judge a candidate since voters don’t have to parse partisan rhetoric to discern how a candidate will act once elected.

Yochim is to be commended, then, for running an upbeat, positive campaign that has been focused on what he wants to do as a state Assemblyman and not based on party politics. It is not an easy tone to set when trying to unseat a three-term incumbent. We were particularly interested by Yochim stating in a debate at The Post-Journal that the sales tax should be increased, a preference for a circuit breaker form of taxation limits on municipalities as opposed to the tax cap, creation of an independent body covering the entire state to handle corruption and Yochim’s argument he can be more effective acting in the state Assembly majority than Goodell can be acting in the Assembly’s minority. We also note points of agreement between the candidates on the state’s handling of the Common Core and the need for fewer school districts throughout the state as a way to rightsize education spending in New York state.

Again, we reiterate our admiration for Yochim and his campaign. We wish more candidates would campaign as Yochim has – and we particularly note his willingness to attend debates in front of potentially unfriendly crowds such as the Southern Tier TEA Party Patriots.

There are a few key points, however, in which Andrew Goodell shines – and they are the most important points of this campaign for the long-term health of all taxpayers in Chautauqua County. First is Goodell’s thoughts on state spending, particularly his continued opposition to the Triborough Amendment and the Wicks Law, two long-debated and never dealt with laws that are particularly burdensome for local taxpayers. Goodell wants to fight to overturn those laws while Yochim stated his support for them. Without decreasing employee costs, taxpayers will continue to feel the squeeze every time their tax bill comes due.

We agree with both candidates that state corruption is a serious issue. But we have long been opposed to public campaign funding, something Yochim said he is in favor of as a way to have fairer elections and to entice more people to run. We remain unconvinced the corruption we have seen in public financing of New York City elections won’t happen statewide and find it difficult to reconcile a state that less than five years ago was in dire financial straits to be flush enough with cash now to pay for political campaigns.

We also remain impressed with the depth of knowledge Goodell shows on the myriad of issues that face New York state. He shows a breadth of understanding – both of the issues themselves and the politics of Albany – that would be difficult to replace, for it is that very knowledge that is most likely to result in anything beneficial to Chautauqua County coming out of the state Assembly.

Goodell’s stance on statewide spending, changing state laws that would be most beneficial to local taxpayers and the breadth of his knowledge of state issues convince us Goodell is the best choice to represent Chautauqua County in the state Assembly, even as a member of the minority.