These are comments from ASAP member scoring of the candidate responses. Members rated candidate responses, those rating were then averaged and converted to a letter grade scale for the table shown on the main page.
Orange: U.S. HoR; Green: NYS Senate; Pink: NYS Assembly
Scores
4 (A): Provides a detailed plan that is backed by science and/or exhibits an openness to learn from and be advised by experts on the issue
3 (B): Proposes vague solutions that suggest an openness to science
2 (C): Acknowledges underlying problem, but rejects solutions-oriented approach without an alternative proposition
1 (D): Refutes existence of underlying problem, or proposes solutions that severely deviate from scientific knowledge
| Candidate | Transportation emissions | Automation & job security | Openness to expert guidance | Sustainable waste management | Sustainability measures in 2024 Farm Bill renewal | Opioid crisis | Gun deaths | Access to healthcare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Tonko | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides clear, resounding support for a critical role of science advice in policy backed by previous actions and future plans | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Points to specific components of the bill he supports and why | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | |
| John Mannion | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Clear dedication to valuing scientific advice | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Points to specific components of the bill he supports and why | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | |
| Thomas Carle | 4 – Promotes research into solutions | 3 – Does not acknowledge fundamental differences in today’s automation boom and those of generations past, but does support training solutions | 4 | 4 – Proposes specific solutions with specific impact largely advised by experts | 4 – Lists specific measures of support | 4 – Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 – Supports efforts to research and develop solutions guided by experts in the field and acknowledges severity of the problems. | |
| April Baskin | 4- Proposes district-specific solutions with relevant impact | 3 – Acknowledges problem but position is vague | 4 | 3 – Solution is specific, but not entirely evidence-based. PFAS can come from a wide variety of wastewater sources and excluding those that contain PFAS from specific operations may not be possible | 3 – Vague support of local farming | 4 – Offers specific solutions-oriented experience and intent to execute similarly | 4- Offers specific root-cause programming | 3 – Offers specific solution to address root causes, but vague in plans to address emergency needs | |
| Scott Comegys | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 – lists specific bill measures he supports and why | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 – proposes a specific solution beyond party talking points regarding enforcement | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | |
| Michele Frazier | 4 – committed to scientific best practices and infrastructure solutions | 4- suggests specific education reform measures | 4 | 3 – Soil is not the only thing affected by GHG emissions. References specific legislative measure | 4 – references specific measures | 4 – Provides specific measures to address a specific root cause and solutions for active addiction | 3 – extremely vague | 4 – suggests specific universal healthcare measure to keep doctors in smaller communities that would also increase access for the uninsured | |
| Jeffery Elder | 3 – Answer does not have much to do with transportation specifically, seems to pose an offset that may or may not be feasible | 4 – though vague on plans, suggests an openness to expert input supported by other answers | 4 | 2 – The question asks specifically about improving sust. Waste management in NYS, answer deflects responsibility to other states | 4 – full endorsement of every element of bill | 3 – question asked which contributing factors – answer is very vague and broad | 2 – these solutions have already been implemented in NYS | 3 – does not acknowledge the basis of the question; ACA does include payment and reinbursement measures, though it is already a law and trend persists nonetheless | |
| Ian Bergstrom | 4 – addresses the question of improving EV public transport | 4 – suggests education efforts to allow NYers to keep up with tech boom | 4 | 3 – Though less relevant today, organized crime did largely manipulate waste management in southern NY and NYC until the mid-1990’s and answer suggests solutions for continuing recovery from mismanagement that would mitigate emissions. Does not address other root causes or openness to innovation in process. | 4 – Answer lists specific components of the bill the candidate supports for renewal. | 4 – Answer supplies concrete measures for improvement guided by experts. | 4 – Answer provides specific measures to mitigate deaths by firearms supported by gun death statistics and existing laws. | 1 - Migrants may receive phones from the federal government with limited functionality loaded with one app necessary for abiding by legal requirement. Some migrants receive Medicare from the federal government, not the state. The vast majority of NYS $4.3B budget for asylum seeker support from FY 2022-2026 is allocated for housing and has been spent accordingly. The sentiment that budget allocations for migrants directly draw from resources available for supporting minority communities in NYS is entirely misleading; funds are not allocated by racial identity. Overhauling the medical system is a valid response, but this answer is infused with social media-propagated conspiracy theories. | |
| Phil Steck | 4 – lists specific measures with specific impact | 4- References proper sources of information and openness | 3 – References a couple of hard science topics where candidate supports expert guidance, but largely laments implementation of data-driven solutions in social science fields without proposing a solution. | 4 – Addresses lack of expertise in this area and exhibits openness to guidance and support of expert recommendations | 4 – Similar to preceding question | 4 – Points to specific measures with specific impact | 4 – Similar to preceding | 4 – Specific measure that alleviates question’s areas of concern | |
| Garrett Petersen | 4 – District-specific answer with specific remedies | 4 – Addresses problems with acuity and proposes solutions to help NYers keep up with tech boom | 4 | 4 – Proposes specific solutions with specific impact | 4 – Exhibits openness to expert guidance and humility | 4 - Proposes specific solutions with specific impact | 4 - Proposes specific solutions with specific impact | 4 - Proposes specific solutions with specific impact | |
| Marcela Mitaynes | 4 - Proposes specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Budgetary allocations for solutions | 3 – Vague support of expert input but no indication of how feasibility should be evaluated | 3 – Acknowledges underlying problem but not specific measures at hand with no specific state-level solutions | 4 – Lists specific component of the bill supported | 3 – Reiterates campaign platform on universal health and mental health care, but does not address opioid crisis | 4 - Proposes specific solution with specific relevant impact | 4 – Specific solution is bringing struggling private hospitals under public ownership | |
| Harpreet Toor | 4 – Suggests specific improvements to existing infrastructure with relevant impact | 3 – Answer is vaguely related to issue at hand | 4 | 2 – Suggestions do not address the question and reference anecdotal evidence of solutions that cannot be legislated; suggestions for curriculum are not directly related to issue at hand | 2 – Acknowledges gaps in knowledge about Farm Bill and offers somewhat related speculations that do not reference expert advice | 1 – Answer strongly deviates from existing evidence about root causes of issue; answer does not indicate a willingness to seek guidance | 3 – Speculations that may be accurate are not supported by evidence | 3 – Acknowledges problem and indicates exploring solutions and turning to evidence for answers | |
| Scott Gray | 3 – Vague indication of evidence-based solutions | 4 – proposes a specific solution with specific impact | 2 – Does not indicate openness to science advice | 1 – There are hundreds of recycling centers in NYS; no indication that this solution is supported by any evidence or guidance | 2 – No measures listed or openness to advice | 1 – This collaboration exists | 1 – Current red-flag gun laws prevent those with certain criminal offense from buying guns… Answer is extremely unclear | 3 – Acknowledges problem and vague solution measures | |
| Mike Bobseine | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact, though not relevant to the Farm Bill | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 3 – Nearly all of these are enshrined in NYS law already | 4 – Answer exhibits openness to advice from experts | |
| Joe Seeman | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Answer shows intentto seek guidance from experts | 4 | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Admits knowledge gap and willingness to work with experts | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | |
| Pamela Hunter | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Offers insight that cater to her area of expertise | 4 | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Commitment to work with field experts | |
| Tina Posterli | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Dedicated commitment to scientific advice | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Indicates support of specific components of bill | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | |
| Michael Reynolds | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 3 – Address the resultant shifted job market, but not the needs of workers jobs shift FROM | 4 – Dedicated commitment to scientific advice | 4 – Outlines specific solution with plans to consult relevant experts | 4 – Exhibits trust in expert opinion | 3 – Answer provides values and acknowledges problem, but not concrete plans | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | |
| Alicia Purdy | 1 – Blatant misrepresentation of fact. 2023 report (pg 27) showed that household electric bills increased by a maximum of 9.8% across NY regions as a result of the CLCPA. There have been no credible estimates of the bill’s cost to consumers beyond this. Scientific consensus is not against this bill’s goals. | 1 – The state’s budget is enacted by the legislature; budget requests are prepared by state agencies, and reviewed by the Division of the Budget and the Governor before being sent to the Legislature. the NYS Legislature always has final say for approval and modification. Crime in NYS increased by 4% from 2022 to 2023, but rates are still 40% lower than those in 2000 for non-NYC crime. | 4 – Shows intent to commit to abiding by scientific advice | 3 – Answer acknowledges underlying problem, and proposes vague solutions largely backed by science. | 4 – Lists specific tenets of bill she supports and why | 4 – Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 – Indicates priority areas and takes into account existing legislation | 3 – Acknowledges problem and suggests vague budget restructuring to support unknown measures without indicating expert input | |
| Aamir Sultan | 4- Supports research and development | 3 – Vague | 4 | 3 – Vague, nonconsequential in suggesting no reforms | 3 – Vague | 3 – Vague | 4 | 4 | |
| Deborah Glick | 4 - Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 - Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact | 4 | 4 - Provides specific solutions with specific relevant impact and includes own legislation | 4 – Admits where knowledge gaps lie | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Vicki Davis | 4 – Details district-specific limitations and plans | 3 - Vague | 4 | 3 – no comment | 3 – Vague | 4 | 4 | 3 – Solution is not viable for a widespread problem | |