Praises Padavan
To The Editor:

Governor [Eliot] Spitzer is off base in targeting Republican state Senator Frank Padavan for defeat in 2008 in an effort to regain control of the state senate for the Democrats.

The senator is one of our hardest working elected officials. He is responsive to the citizens who he represents, he is not afraid to take independent stands on issues that his party leadership may not agree with and he can always be counted on to act in the best interests of his constituents. I know, I live in his district and I am a witness to his many accomplishments over his years of service to the residents of Northeast Queens.

The governor should focus instead on trying to clear the senate and Assembly of dead wood, be they Republican or Democrat. Too many elected officials coast along doing little for the people they represent. The governor should contact local community and civic leaders as well as poll other residents to find out who really does a good job and who does not. Then he should lobby to replace those hacks who leach on taxpayer dollars with people who care and who work. That would be real reform!

I voted for both Governor Spitzer and Senator Padavan in the last election because I respect both men's integrity and dedication. The governor should take advantage of the senator's expertise and experience in forging bipartisan support on issues and legislation that will improve all of our lives. The senator should not be kicked to the curb because of party differences. Henry Euler Bayside