HENRIETTA, N.Y. -- For the first time in at least a decade, two Republican candidates are battling it out for the 138th Assembly district in the primaries on Tuesday. Bob Zinck and Peter Vazquez are buckling down on their campaigns and working hard to garner votes for the district that includes portions of Rochester, Chili and Henrietta.
Zinck represented Henrietta as a County Legislator, was a state Workers Compensation Board Commissioner, and is now part owner of Lovin' Cup, a bistro in Henrietta.
For four years, Zinck worked as the Rochester-Monroe County Youth-Bureau Director, where he became impassioned about our youth. He said during that time he saw a lot of funding cut by the state.
“What I really want to push for in Albany is the reestablishment of money through OCFS (NY State Office of Children and Family Services) for positive youth development, for positive things,” Zinck said. “I’m a big believer in helping people to help themselves, and if we can’t start with youth, then where else do we want to start?”
He also said to promote job creation he would rather see money go towards organizations like Rochester Works and Monroe County College than the program START-UP NY, which he said has spent millions with barely any jobs to show for it.
“I think our money is better spent giving it, giving money to organizations that can more effectively spend that money and get results from spending that money,” Zinck said.
Zinck calls himself blessed and said he got into this to give back. He said his ability to get along with others, but not allow himself to be bullied makes him a good fit for the seat.
Peter Vazquez is coming into the race for the third time. He is a disabled veteran after serving as a U.S Army Sergeant, founded Simply Served Process Servers, Incorporated, and is currently the Frederick Douglass Foundation of New York President. He was also a U.S. Department of Treasury Revenue Officer.
Education is a hot topic for him and he’d like to repeal Common Core, get rid of the Regents’ board, and reduce the Department of Education down to a supportive role.
“If we were to take the state department and reduce the size to a supportive role, instituting home rule for schools, bringing the control of the school budget and the teachers evaluation, and the curriculum back to the school boards, allowing the state education department to set minimal standards, standards that we have to meet, I think not only would we save a lot of money, we would also get our schools back,” Vazquez said.
Vazquez said his background, which includes growing up poor in the inner city and working hard to make a better life for himself, his courage, and all that he has done to get to where he is gives him the experience he needs to work with those in Albany.
“I’m on a mission and my mission is to deal with the systemic issues that are crushing the state and that has to be done in the assembly and in the Senate, but especially in the Assembly where the balance of power has been under one control for a very long time,” Vazquez said. “I’m not an establishment guy and there’s a reason why there’s a primary this year.”
Both said they want to rid the issues of corruption within the government. Vazquez said he would do this by transparency, and Zinck said he would push for more open communications within the state system.
The primary winner will face either Rachel Barnhart or Harry Bronson, both Democrats, in November.