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Buhrmaster runs on his business record: Experience making payrolls, cutting waste needed in Washington(Times Union (Albany, NY) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 12--From his grandfather's time pushing a milk cart to his family's role today as bankers and energy suppliers, 63-year-old Jim Buhrmaster's name is well-known in his native Schenectady County. The Republican's recognition factor is less certain in other parts of the heavily Democratic 21st Congressional District, where Buhrmaster is running an uphill battle against Paul Tonko, a former assemblyman. In an effort to get his message out, Buhrmaster, the president of Buhrmaster Energy Group, has launched an ad campaign that paints himself and his Democratic opponent in broad strokes. Buhrmaster, who entered politics just four years ago as a member of the Schenectady County Legislature, said Tonko served his own best interests by making politics his occupation for 24 years in the state Legislature. Tonko, who has known Buhrmaster for years, has defended himself, saying Buhrmaster is criticizing the government he wants to join. Buhrmaster has said he wants term limits, perhaps 12 years maximum for a congressman. The Republican says he's someone new and different, a small businessman who wants to tighten spending in the midst of a national economic crisis. He's confident some 87,000 unaffiliated voters -- and what would have to be a good share of frustrated Democrats -- will come to his side on Nov. 4 in a district that covers Albany, Schoharie, Schenectady and Montgomery counties and parts of Fulton, Saratoga and Rensselaer counties. "I very much like my chances," said Buhrmaster, who has temporarily handed off much of his business to two of his four sons while he attends events such as senior citizen forums and goes door to door on weekends. "From what I'm hearing, what I'm seeing, the people are ready for somebody who's willing to go down there not for a career, but to stand up for the people back home and make a change." Buhrmaster, whose family has owned Buhrmaster Energy Group for 95 years and First National Bank of Scotia for 85 years, said he's been courted in the past to run for various political offices. He's served in community roles, including as chairman of the Chamber of Schenectady County. His former sister-in-law, Republican Margaret "Mugsie" Burhmaster, was a longtime Schenectady County legislator who once unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Michael McNulty. a Green Island Democrat. . Buhrmaster said his brother, nephew and two of his sons approached him about running for Congress after McNulty announced he would retire a year ago. Buhrmaster considered it, in part, because there is no incumbent in the race. Only one other Republican, young Ballston Lake entrepreneur Steven Vasquez, sought the seat. He lost to Burhmaster by 38 percentage points in the Sept. 9 primary. When Buhrmaster announced his candidacy in March at his Glenville business headquarters, he was adamant that although he's running as a Republican, he's an independent thinker. His positions, however, draw heavily from the Republican platform, including support for off-shore drilling and the reduction of congressional earmarks. He recently released a TV ad calling his opponent "Taxin' Tonko" for his votes on state tax increases. "I don't look at it as Republican, I look at it as Jim Buhrmaster, a business person, a community person," he said of his campaign and platform. "In my business, if we can't afford it, we don't buy it. If we have waste, we correct it. That has nothing to do with a party affiliation." Burhmaster sometimes votes with Democrats, and rarely speaks during meetings, but when he does, you know it will be a strong and thoughtful position, said Robert Farley, a Republican who is the minority leader of the Schenectady County Legislature. "Jim's perspective is that of a businessman. He's not a partisan person," Farley said. John Faso, a former state Assemblyman and 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate, has been a big Buhrmaster backer, sending letters to his supporters asking them to contribute to the congressional candidate. Faso said Buhrmaster can connect with the middle class -- despite the fact Buhrmaster's family owns multiple businesses, and Buhrmaster personally loaned $100,000 to his own campaign. "He's got real-life experience ... running a business, making payrolls, dealing with government regulations, dealing with providing health insurance to employees and surviving in a very hostile business environment," said Faso, who now works as an attorney in Kinderhook. "In Congress, candidly, we need more people who have real-world business experience." Buhrmaster said he wants to approach government spending as he has in his own business, which has grown and shrunk over its history. The company once employed more than 100 workers during highs in the late 1970s and early '90s. But the energy group shed side projects, like investments in convenience stores, when they didn't prove to be profitable, he said. Buhrmaster Energy Group now employes 50 people. "We've got plenty of money in Washington if we control spending and really attack the waste," Buhrmaster said. "It's there." Lauren Stanforth can be reached at (518) 454-5697 or at [email protected]. To see more of the Albany Times Union, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesunion.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Albany Times Union, N.Y. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |