Roy McDonald still making a difference
Gillibrand may finally have the votes for sexual assault bill
The Front Page
Morning Update
Friday, April 30, 2021
By Ken Tingley
I first met Roy McDonald more than 20 years ago when we at the newspaper were trying to define a roadmap for our local communities into the new millennium with our “Vision 2000” series.
McDonald was the supervisor in Wilton then.
He was proud of his record of bringing enough retail business through the Exit 15 corridor to eliminate the local tax in Wilton.
But on this night, a local author who had written extensively on urban sprawl was calling out McDonald for paving over Saratoga County and it was not sitting well with the supervisor.
McDonald, who grew up in hardscrabble Troy and served in Vietnam, began fidgeting in his seat, and before long he was on his feet challenging the author to step outside where they could settle this like men.
Roy McDonald makes a memorable first impression.
McDonald went on to serve in the state Assembly, then the state Senate.
On Election Day 2010, I sat down with McDonald to talk about life in the state Senate.
McDonald, usually exuberant and full of energy, seemed reserved this day. It was difficult to get him to start talking. I told him he seemed, “beaten down.” That’s when he came to life.
“As I’ve gotten older, I have evolved. I like people, I really do, and I’ll work with anyone, but I’m also very candid. What’s scaring me is they (other N.Y. Senators) are not competent,” McDonald said. “These are fourth-stringers coming out of the city. I had a higher expectation for the people. Some of these people are terrible. The senate is supposed to be this elite body. You want some people with wisdom and vision. What I saw was appalling. I saw a bunch of hustlers.”
Even in 2010, that kind of candor was unusual.
Two years later, with new Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushing to legalize same-sex marriages, Sen. Roy McDonald voted his conscience and became one of several Republicans to vote for same-sex marriage.
The next day he unloaded a blistering defense that stands the test of time:
“You get to the point where you evolve in your life where everything isn't black and white, good and bad, and you try to do the right thing,” McDonald told Politico. “You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, fuck it, I don't care what you think. I'm trying to do the right thing. I'm tired of Republican-Democrat politics. They can take the job and shove it. I come from a blue-collar background. I'm trying to do the right thing, and that's where I'm going with this.”
Conservative Republicans throughout his district - McDonald’s people - lined up against him. Kathy Marchione tested him in a primary in 2012 and won by 99 votes. McDonald, who had been endorsed by the Independence Party, could have continued the fight into November, but chose to walk away. He feared he would split the Republican vote and that open the door for a Democrat to win and take control of the Senate. So he walked away.
It cemented McDonald’s place in New York history with a “Profiles in Courage” moment. Somebody should put up a statue to the guy. I’ve devoted a chapter to his brave vote in a book that will be coming out next year.
This past week, I had lunch with McDonald.
He is 74 now and just had a knee replaced. While he needs a cane to get around, I suspect that won’t be for long. People like Roy McDonald can never be held down for long.
He is on the board of directors at Grant Cottage and is serving on the board of the New York State Military Museum. McDonald hopes to expand the museum building and the scope of its programs.
I suspect he will make a difference there, too.
When we talked about politics, McDonald said he will always be an American first. That’s a good way to think about it. More people should be an American first. We all would be better off.
Politics is a grind
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand - our former congresswoman - stood shoulder to shoulder with two prominent Republican senators - Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Jodi Ernest - this week. They all agree that prosecutions of military sexual assaults should be taken out of the hands of commanders.
Gillibrand was the leader on this issue eight years ago. Over the years, Post-Star editorials have repeatedly applauded her efforts to address this long-standing problem and give justice to so many men and women in the military. I’ve been written a few columns that the change is overdue.
Yet, over the years local congresswoman Elise Stefanik has been against making the change, despite being on the House Armed Services Committee.
The men and women in the military have waited eight long years. Hopefully, their wait is almost over.
