A New York City lawyer with deep pockets and an Internet site is targeting Assemblyman Paul Tonko and 26 other state lawmakers with TV ads criticizing their positions reform.

      The TV spot about Tonko, to air later this week on local cable channels, attacks the Amsterdam Democrat for not supporting an overhaul of New York's ballot access laws, sold attorney Charles Juntikka, the founder of Students for Reform.

      Juntikka said Tonko never returned a questionnaire about his positions on various issues, which the group interpreted as opposition to reform.

      "He refused to support [ballot reform]," Juntikka said "If he's in favor of it, it's a mystery to me." A spokeswoman said Tonko doesn't consider ballot reform an urgent issue, but also doesn't recall ever receiving a questionnaire or hearing directly from Juntikka or his group.

      "He never come to see us," spokeswoman Nancy Nemeth said, "He's never requested a meeting."

      New York's often arcane election rules became a national issue earlier this year when Sen. John McCain was initially denied a spot on the ballot for statewide presidential primary. The Legislature recently voted to changes the rules, but - to the disappointment of watching dogs groups - only for future Republican presidential primaries, "If it was that hard for McCain to get on the ballot, how would a reformer in Schenectady get on a the ballot?" Juntikka said, "It's made [New York] a laughingstock,"

      The group's ad campaign focuses on members of the majority party in each house of the Legislature, especially those who are considered politically vulnerable because they live in districts without a strong enrollment advantage for their party.

      Student for Reform was founded by Juntikka, a prominent bankruptcy attorney who uses his own money, supplemented by donations, to hire student interns and finance politically mailings and advertising.

      Juntikka said the campaign against, Tonko and other lawmakers will continue through election day - unless the politicians demonstrate a commitment to reform.