[caption id="attachment_37357" align="alignright" width="300"] George Amedore, running for State Senate in District 46, campaigning on election day at the Saugerties Senior Center.[/caption]David Robinson in the Albany Business Review asks just-elected State Senator George Amedore (R-Rotterdam) three questions. Amedore represents Greene and Schoharie counties, and parts of Ulster and Albany and other counties in the State Senate District 46.

Q. What changed among voters between 2012 and Tuesday?
A. My opponent had a record this race, and that record was not good for the district and the people spoke loud and clear yesterday that they wanted this seat to be returned back to the people.
Q. What are the most important issues you plan to address in the Senate?
A. It's what I've heard while knocking on doors since I announced my candidacy…The first things that we need to start tackling are that the cost of living is too high and the property taxes are too high. And the educational system in the state of New York is leaving children behind and we need to start more vocational education programs…and properly train students for the workforce.
Q . How do you see the GOP control of the state Senate reshaping the political agenda in Albany?
A. I'll be happy to see the balance starting January one for this next legislative session. It needed to be a balanced government and the residents knew we could not afford to go back to one-party rule. I'm glad to see the Senate Republican caucus is going to see its own strong majority and put forward its own regulatory reform and sensible fiscal policies.