Brendan O’Shea wants to give back


NEW SCOTLAND – Brendan O’Shea says he has always thought of "doing something in terms of giving back." He is running as a Democrat in a four-way race for one of two town justice positions. He has one Democratic running mate and two Republican opponents.

For the past 35 years, O’Shea was either in school or working full-time, he said.
"I’ve always wanted to give back," he said. Running for town justice is a "very good opportunity to do just that," he said.

O’Shea, 58, is a partner of the law firm, Gleason, Dunn Walsh, & O’Shea, in Albany, and he practices family law, including custody, foster care, and adoption, he said. Before going to law school, O’Shea worked as a third-grade teacher for six years.
Teaching, he said, was the "toughest job" he ever had. As a teacher, he strived to work with the children and their families, he said, adding that his legal experience has "dovetailed on that."
He has spent his whole life representing individuals or families, and has "a good sense of what makes people tick," he said.
"I simply have the breadth and variety of experience to bring to the table," he said. "I’m capable of taking on most any task," he added.
The judiciary is based on a common sense and work-hard attitude, said O’Shea. "I think the punishment, whether it’s punitive or community service, ought to fit the offense," he said.
O’Shea says that he is OK with the present system, where town judges are elected rather than appointed, but, in the future, he would like to see "a move to non-partisan or appointed positions." He prefers that to election of judges.

O’Shea has lived in New Scotland for 20 years, with his wife, Bonnie, and his sons, Patrick, 22, and Conor, 20.
Because O’Shea is not an incumbent, "I have to do some advertising," he said. He contributed $10,000 to his own campaign. The figure is more than double the usual amount spent in New Scotland elections.
"I just didn’t want to be calling my friends up and asking them for money," he said. "I didn’t want any of them to be beholden to me" I’m just trying to take care of my own campaign."

O’Shea said he expects to spend around $4,700. He has spent $1,900 for print ads in The Enterprise and the Spotlight, and expects to spend another $500 for newspaper ads. He is responsible for paying $789 for his campaign signs. He has slotted $1,458 for palm cards to hand out at homes he visits, he said.
He plans to go door-to-door campaigning, he said. "I’d like to hit 90 percent-plus of the houses, if I can," said O’Shea. "Folks have to size up the candidates," he said. "You wouldn’t buy a car if you didn’t kick the tires.
"I have nothing but positive things to say about the other candidates," said O’Shea of the three other town justice candidates.
"Town court is really where most people have interaction with the justice system in this state," said O’Shea. "It’s up to us to make it run efficiently, fairly, and consistently, and that’s what I hope to do," he concluded.