Albany

While observers have been quick to label his opponents, Matt Funiciello, the 21st Congressional District's Green Party candidate, has avoided the name calling while crafting a brand that comes across as refreshingly honest.

Funiciello of Glens Falls delivers unabashed commentary and analysis of district and national politics. He rails against corporate America and its effect on the political system. He scolds the news media's lack of coverage of third-party candidates. And he isn't shy about pointing out that he's a small businessman who has policy ideas that could provide long-lasting jobs to turn around a district full of dying towns.

But why would voters choose a third-party candidate over a Democrat and Republican backed by millions of dollars and major parties, and who are getting the key coverage they need before the election this November?

The major parties are offering fast-food hamburgers, while he is a healthier option, he says.

"My perspective is we may just be ready as voters in this election to be receptive to the idea that a salad made with locally grown mesclun mix and balsamic vinaigrette, first press virgin olive oil, is going to taste a hell of a lot better than that Whopper or Big Mac," he said.

Third party 21st District candidates haven't had an easy go of it in the past two cycles. In 2012, Green candidate Donald Hassig's 4,100 votes were roughly 30 times fewer than either of the major party candidates received. In 2010, Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman was closer — his vote total was only eight times less than his opponents'.

Still, Funiciello, who like his opponents is making his first run for office, rejects the idea that he's running a quixotic campaign. In a district where the swing vote is important, he said he's spoken with a wealth of voters who are registered with a mainstream party but are willing to set aside partisanship to vote for him. He also said that with 2014 being a midterm election, the number of partisan voters who "do what they're supposed to do" will be smaller than in presidential years.

Funiciello said he is running after promising former presidential candidate Ralph Nader, with whom he is friends, and current gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins, both fellow Green Party members, that he would seek a prominent political office. He comes seemingly prepared for that challenge, loaded with policy concepts, and he gleefully launches into dissertations on bold ideas like solar roadways and smaller regional economies when provoked.

His rhetoric often falls back to his working-class lifestyle, and he is open about continually trying to just make ends meet as a the owner of a cafe and bakery. With that comes an "everyman" perspective on the Affordable Care Act, which he said is his top issue. For the record, he believes a single-payer system would be a better choice for the nation's heath care.

Funiciello is just as open about the fact that he wouldn't mind using the likely media novelty of being the first Green Party member of Congress to his advantage to bring new ideas to the spotlight that could further the nation and the district.

"I would have a bully pulpit that no Democrat or Republican being elected as a freshman congressional representative would have," he said.

mhamilton@timesunion.com • 518-454-5449 • @matt_hamilton10