About this series: Several state Senate and Congressional candidates have been invited by Cornell's Office of Government and Community Relations to meet with faculty and staff at a series of informal luncheons on campus. The Chronicle will publish profiles of these candidates leading up to the Nov. 4 election.

Candidate: Paloma A. Capanna

Party: Democratic, Working Families

Seeking: New York State Senate seat representing the 54th senatorial district. (The district covers more rural territory than any other state Senate district. It includes the town of Lansing; 80 percent of Cayuga County, including almost all of the city of Auburn; all of Seneca and Wayne counties; and 50 percent of Ontario County, including Geneva but not Canandaigua. It reaches up into the town of Webster in Monroe County.

Opponent: Incumbent Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R, Fayette. Nozzolio has been in office since 1992; he has not been opposed until this election.

BACKGROUND

Age: 42

Education: B.A. in political science and economic theory, Wheaton College, Mass.; J.D., SUNY Buffalo.

Employment: Family law attorney since 1992; also performs pro bono legal work through the Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County; has served on the Board to Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester and Hope Hall School.

QUOTES

On the importance of this election: "Our region has had seven Republican conservative senators as its predominant presence in Albany in the Senate for several decades; and the New York State Senate has also been predominantly Republican by elected officials for 60 or so years. So where we stand right now is that this region, particularly Tompkins County, is now suddenly finding itself as the fulcrum that has the opportunity to flip the Senate to Democratic majority.

"If Tompkins County is indeed that fulcrum and we have the ability to set the legislative agenda, arguably [the Senate] becomes more progressive seemingly overnight. We have a state where the population is now ready for programs like universal health insurance. ... where the population is ready to be doing the green energy research that is necessary to not only end our dependence on foreign oil, but to make us energy exporters."

On the economy: "New York state faces a double whammy, because we have both a federal deficit and debt, and we have a New York state deficit and debt. The concept that the state would pass a budget knowingly with a deficit is to me not an acceptable economic proposition.

"So we're going to have to dig deeper. ... one of the ways we can do that is through using things like zero-based accounting, where we say to departments and agencies on an annual basis: There is no presumption that last year's funding is the same. ... [why are you] shifting programs where you do not see results? What [is] your forecasting over the next three to five years? And what specifically is the mathematical formula that you're using to make those projections?

On green energy: "I think we have a window of opportunity. I would propose that we create a zone between Rochester, Syracuse and Ithaca that becomes the focal point for our country on green energy research, development, production and dissemination. If we can manage to harness that window, we can ... grow not only our regional economy, we can grow our state's economy. But I think if we miss this window ... somebody else is going to become that center."

On cooperation in government: "I know I have to put together a coalition of people who see a bigger picture than just member item monies. I'm hoping it's this year.

"I look at 16 years as a matrimonial attorney, and I think I've got a pretty good skill set to be going to Albany, because I've heard it all."