ABT EXCLUDED FROM 147TH D ASSEMBLY DEBATE 

Christina Abt, a well known community volunteer, political activist and newspaper/radio personality is the endorsed Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for the New York State Assembly in the 147^th District. Abt is also facing a September 13th primary on the Independence Party line. So imagine her surprise when she received an email announcing an upcoming political debate among 147the Assembly Race candidates and not only was she not listed among her all-male opponents, she had not even been invited

“My initial reaction to the snub was frustration,” Abt said. “Everywhere I hear that not enough women get involved and run for office. Well no wonder, when this kind of thing happens. However after talking to the debate organizers, I think this is a case of poor organization and miscommunication more than actual discrimination. None the less, it is still an improper political forum, in my opinion, especially when two of the organizers are local not for profit organizations who continually promote themselves as positive forces in our community.”

The debate is being organized by City and State Magazine, a New York City based publication focused on political news, in collaboration with Partnership for the Public Good (PPG) and the YWCA of Western New York. It will be held at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society on Tuesday August 21 beginning at 5 pm. Event organizers are promoting the event as a debate night of, “some hotly contested races this fall-in both the primaries and general elections.” Abt notes that the design of the event is unacceptable for any candidate.

“I have spoken to all of the debate organizers. They have explained that my exclusion is based on the fact that they were featuring only candidates in primary races,” Abt said. “However what that proves to me is a lack of event organization as I am involved in a primary race for the 147^th Assembly District. Equally as significant is the fact that my primary opponent is one of the men who is also running on the GOP line. So he will have a public forum to debate, while I am left out. It’s just wrong and I’m taking this public stand so that candidates in the future will not be treated in this manner. It takes a lot of courage and stamina to step forward and run for public office these days. People who do so need to be treated with respect, and not as fodder for a news publication’s promotional purposes.”

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Abt Excluded From NYS Assembly Debate (con’t) p2

According to Abt, City and State Marketing Director, Andrew Holt, offered her the possibility of an interview with the publication’s editor and the probable inclusion in a future general election debate, but no invitation to participate in the upcoming event.

“I pointedly asked if they were going to include me,” Abt said. “Mr. Holt’s reply was that I needed to see it from the perspective of the candidates in my race who had already committed to the debate. He explained that it wouldn’t be fair to invite me after the other candidates had already replied and they might decide not to show up if I was invited after the fact. If this wasn’t so absurd, it would be laughable. And the fact that I am a graduate of the YWCA’s Leadership Institute Campaign School is just an additional insult. So rather than focus on this exclusionary action, I’m going to continue going door to door and attending district events, talking to my constituents and hearing their concerns, so that when I am elected, I can serve them as an effective assemblywoman. ”

About Christina M. Abt: Christina is well known throughout Erie County as a political activist and a community volunteer. She has worked as a media specialist for the Erie County Legislature as well as a chief of staff for both Republican and Democratic Legislators, helping to effect legislation and organize county wide initiatives such as the establishment of a Southtowns public bus route from Gowanda to Hamburg, radon test kit giveaways and an elm tree reforestation. Abt has served as President of The Eden Chamber of Commerce where, among a number of positive initiatives, she helped to earn a $400,000 Federal Grant for town improvements and new business development. Abt has proven to be a tireless volunteer on many fronts, including her work with Vets HERD, The Broadway Market, Computers for Children, City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, The Eden Corn Festival and a wide range of local school/church boards and organizations theater groups and musicians. Abt also was the moving force behind, Love Knows No Boundaries (loveknowsnoboundaries.org,) a fundraising song that resulted in over $5,000 being donated to the Clarence Flight 3407 Memorial and a Holiday Party that brought “Christmas” to over 2,000 family members of Western New York service men and women serving their country away from home. Abt is a former op-ed columnist for The Sun Newspaper, a special assignment reporter and commentator for NPR affiliate, WBFO, creator and host of Buffalostyle Talk Radio on WECK and a published author. Abt is the president of aBc Productions, a consulting company that provides media/pr/writing and event services. www.abtforassembly.com

About the 147^th NYS Assembly District: The 147^th District is a newly reapportioned election district that encompasses 14 towns in southern Erie County (Evans, Brant, a portion of the Cattaraugus Reservation, Eden, North Collins, Collins, Concord, Boston, Sardinia, Colden, Aurora, Elma, Marilla, Wales, and Holland) and all 16 towns of Wyoming County.