8/20/06 - NY TIMES ENDORSEMENT

On August 20th, Ken picked up the key endorsement of the New York Times. The paper wrote that Ken “deserves a lot of credit” for running against an opponent who “has long been the go-to man for politicians who want to get pesky challengers off the ballot.” Taking note of Connor’s dubious role as both election lawyer and Albany institution, the Times concludes, “Albany needs change, not institutions. We recommend voting for Mr. Diamondstone to send a message that business as usual must stop.”

“Ken Diamondstone, a small developer in Brooklyn, deserves a lot of credit. He's running against State Senator Marty Conner, a long-term incumbent who also happens to be a lawyer specializing in election law. Mr. Conner has long been the go-to man for politicians who want to get pesky challengers off the ballot. Naturally, Mr. Diamondstone faced weeks of challenges at the Board of Elections and in court.

“The party establishment dislikes real elections, and prefers to bump competitors out of the race—either through their control over local boards of elections or with judges handpicked by those same party leaders… 

“Senator Connor is something of an Albany institution. But Albany needs change, not institutions. We recommend voting for Mr. Diamondstone to send a message that business as usual must stop.”