State Senate candidates in a sprint
Thursday, September 07, 2006
By ROB HART
ADVANCE ALBANY BUREAU
City Councilman Andrew Lanza yesterday said he would use the state
Senate to fight for tougher penalties against sex offenders, while his
GOP primary opponent, Robert Helbock, bashed a citywide funding stream
that he said shortchanges Staten Island schools.
"Sex offenses are among the most brutal and traumatic of all crimes,
and when committed against children, they're the most heinous of all
crimes," said Lanza, who's campaigning to replace retiring state Sen.
John Marchi (R-Staten Island).
Outside PS 8 in Great Kills, the South Shore Republican said he would
push for civil confinement, a plan that has failed to gain traction
outside of GOP Gov. George Pataki and the Republican-ruled Senate.
The proposal would keep convicted sex offenders in mental
institutions after their prison sentences. Opponents have said it would
be a burden on the mental health system.
Lanza added that he would submit legislation to increase penalties
for sex offenders, elevating felony classifications so judges could hand
out tougher sentences.
Helbock, who is also the Conservative nominee to replace Marchi,
criticized the way in which the city funds the "empowerment schools"
program, where principals get added freedom in exchange for guarantees
of student progress.
PS 32, Great Kills, is the only Island school whose principal chose
to take part in the program, which encompasses 331 schools across the
city. But the program is funded at the expense of non-participating
schools. That means the Island is putting more money into the program
than it gets back, Helbock said.
"As an elected official, I would fight these types of abuses by the
City of New York," he said.
Helbock, who serves as legislative counsel for Marchi, said that
Lanza, as a member of the City Council's Education Committee, has not
been forceful on fixing the issue.
Lanza countered that he's against the lopsided formula, and that
Helbock has been silent up until now on education, while he has been
working through the Council to bring money back to his district.
Attorney Matthew Titone, son of the late Judge Vito Titone, is the
Democrat in the race.
Rob Hart covers state government for the Advance. He may be reached
at rhart@siadvance.com.
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