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Hello dear people of Schoharie County,
Like me, you care about our country, and want to live where people can: -Choose when and how to have a family -Afford decent health care -Live comfortably and securely with good jobs and decent wages -Know their constitutional rights will be protected
We can have these things if we elect Democrats.
Early voting has already started. Why wait till election day? You can vote early at the Cobleskill Library or at the Schoharie County office building, at these times:
Sunday, October 30, 2022 from: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday, October 31, 2022 from: Noon to 8:00 pm Tuesday, November 1, 2022 from: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Wednesday, November 2, 2022 from: Noon to 8:00 pm Thursday, November 3, 2022 from: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday, November 4, 2022 from: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday, November 5, 2022 from: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday, November 6, 2022 from: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Can you help us get our neighbors to go vote? Voter turnout really matters! Just hit “Reply” to this email and let us know if you can make phone calls or knock on doors.
The Democratic Committee will have volunteers at our headquarters at 548 East Main Street in Cobleskill from 10-2 on Sunday, October 30, 10-2 on Saturday, November 5 and 10-2 on Sunday, November 6. We will be launching Get Out the Vote neighborhood canvases from there at 10, but you can stop in at any time to get a yard sign and help us reach out to voters.
We would love to connect you with effective ways to make a difference this election. Hit “Reply” to this email and tell us if you can make phone calls or knock on doors. We will contact you with details. It is easy and oh-so important.
In solidarity, SCDC Chair |
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Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act
SCDC strongly urges a YES VOTE on Prop 1. The funds authorized in the NY State Bond, if the voters approve it, will leverage Federal funds already set aside for this purpose. From an email from Environmental Advocates of New York: “Did you know that on November 8th New Yorkers will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to vote for a measure that will fund critical projects for our environment? In fact, New York State lawmakers recently passed the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act, a historic piece of legislation that will fund critical environmental protection and restoration projects throughout the state. Now more than ever, it’s up to voters like you to VOTE YES in the general election on November 8th.
Environmental Advocates NY supports the Bond Act and we are counting on you to turn over your ballot and VOTE YES for Proposition 1 on November 8th! To learn more about the Bond Act, check out our factsheet and take the pledge to VOTE YES for Prop 1, and help us spread the word by sharing on social media and talking to your friends and family!” |
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Interview with Eric Ball, Democratic Candidate for NYS -51st Senate District, October 2022 |
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1 – Where do you live and work in the district? I live in Walton, NY, where I was born and raised. I work for a survey company in Sidney, NY, and I am a village trustee in Walton.
2 – Why did you decide to run for elected office? Why did you register with the Democratic party? I’m a proud native of this district and I believe we need to have people who know and love the area representing us. I initially decided to run because I felt that rural New Yorkers didn’t have the voice they deserve representing them in Albany. As rural New Yorkers we know the importance of social programs, state grants, and active government. I want to be an active state senator. I pledge to remain connected to my constituents and serve their needs in Albany. I’m not running to be a lackey; I’m running to deliver real tangible solutions to problems that are only getting worse. I come from a family of Republicans. I have registered and am running as a Democrat because I believe this party most closely aligns with my beliefs on how we should govern, how we treat our most marginalized, and how we ultimately make this state and this country a better place for the coming generations.
3 – What legislative committees in the NY Senate would you seek if elected? I would seek membership in the Agriculture Committee, Environmental Conservation Committee, Mental Health Committee, and the Energy and Telecommunications Committee.
4– What are your top three priorities for the district if elected? My first priority is ensuring that women in this district maintain control over their own bodies. I support codifying a right to an abortion in our state constitution through the Equality Amendment. My second priority will be to vote to pass the New York Health Act which will expand healthcare and cover every New York resident regardless of age, income, wealth, or employment, as well as eliminate network restrictions, deductibles, and copays. My third priority will be to deliver our tax dollars back to our district. My opponent prides himself on his ability to block Democratic legislation in Albany. I will pride myself on my ability to deliver resources back to our communities no matter if the legislation has an R or a D next to it. Our district needs more affordable housing, more education funding, more infrastructure projects, more mental healthcare providers, and more support from our elected officials.
I view Schoharie County as one of seven counties the 51st district encompasses. One of seven counties that needs more support from Albany; that needs more funding to support its emergency medical services and fire departments; that needs more support to deal with mental health patients; that needs increased funding to fix aging infrastructure. I view Schoharie County as an area ripe for economic and community development if we reward local ambition with economic support.
6 – Broadband access is not available throughout Schoharie County. What would you do to bring access to everyone if elected? In the 21st century it is imperative that every person has affordable access to the internet. We have made great progress, but as rural New Yorkers know, there still remain large portions of our communities that are without access or broadband services. I will push to make sure these services cover every New Yorker. We must prioritize our technological infrastructure so we can grow businesses in areas that have been left out of the equation, by extending access to high-speed internet and broadband networks, as well as expanding cell phone coverage which—importantly— is also a safety issue. Prioritizing investments and upgrading our technological infrastructure will help New York compete in the 21st century by attracting advanced industry and allowing people to establish businesses in areas that traditionally did not have the support or infrastructure necessary to establish such businesses. Beyond just bringing business to the region, expanding broadband to underserved areas will allow rural New Yorkers to have access to essential functions such as telehealth. We all know the struggle to make appointments and manage network restrictions in rural areas such as the 51st, so increasing internet and cell service also connects people to vital medical appointments and prevents people from having to take off a full day of work just to do something as simple as seeing a medical professional.
7 – New York State has experienced a population decline and Schoharie County experienced a 9% drop in population from 2021 to 2020. As a young person, how do you feel about the upstate economy, and if elected, what would you focus on to improve economic and population growth? I have lived through two major economic recessions and two 100-year floods that completely destroyed my community’s downtown even though I am only 34 years old. On top of those setbacks, I have watched as property values have skyrocketed and good paying jobs have dissipated. Home ownership is the ultimate investment one can make in their future. It provides families with stability that can be guaranteed for many generations. This pinnacle of the American path towards success is becoming harder and harder to achieve. Property values are up across the district pricing people out of being able to purchase a home. All the while, the more short-term rentals that exist, the scarcer long-term rentals become, raising the cost of rent. New Yorkers are watching their wages stay the same, the price of gas increase, the price of groceries increase, and the price of their rent increase, all while their paychecks have been the same for the last 15 years. We’re no longer living in a time where people can work their full-time jobs and afford a place to call home. We need to support young people who want to make the community they were raised in their home for years to come. We need to attract good paying, union jobs. I see rural New York as the perfect location to make real investments in sustainable technologies. Not only will we be able to power our own infrastructure, but we will be able to hire thousands of people for jobs that can compete with salaries offered elsewhere. I also see the expanding hemp and cannabis industry as an avenue to bring jobs to the area while staying in touch with our agricultural roots. Upstate New York is beautiful, and we know that people want to live here. It should be the role of elected officials to attract industries that will not only help the planet but will attract young professionals to make this place their home. We need to make sure that our physical and social infrastructures are positioned to handle this. We need more doctors, more mental health professionals, more tradesmen, more teachers, and we need our water mains and wastewater treatment plants to be able to handle increases in population. We know our region offers more than just a tourist economy. We need to work towards a sustainable economy that offers support for those who have been here and attracts new people who want to make this place their home.
8 - What do you do when not campaigning?
Well, right now, I work a full-time job and campaigning takes a lot of my time, but I make a conscious effort to take time for myself and do things I enjoy to actively recuperate. In my free time I enjoy visiting our hunting camp with family, and spending time with and fishing with my two nephews. I am also a drummer and I play various community gigs as well as jam sessions with friends. |
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DEMS REACH OUT TO INSPIRE VOTERS
Sunday, October 16 was unexpectedly good weather and what better way to spend it than meeting candidates, making friends, and encouraging voters to engage in the election this November? Schoharie County Democratic Committee members, and many other local volunteers of all ages, gathered at Wayward Lane Brewery on a perfect fall day. They knocked on doors, giving out information about early voting and the candidates’ positions, and wrote over 900 postcards to voters who might need a nudge to get to the polls. Five candidates came by, some writing postcards, others talking with volunteers and the public, and everyone enjoying the weather and good food. Nicholas Chase, candidate for 102nd Assembly District, came early and wrote 40 postcards, while conversing, and discussing his priorities for bringing more resources to the schools in our district. Eric Ball, candidate for State Senate District 51, arrived later in the day and talked with volunteers and local folks at the brewery about his background in health care and his hope for representing the interests and needs of the people throughout his district that stretches into several counties. Two of the three Democrats running for the open State Supreme Court seats came by, Sharon Graff and Heidi Cochrane. True to their judicial postures of impartiality, they could not actually write postcards expressing any political views, so they relaxed, chatted about the role and function of the Supreme Court in the scheme of things, and explained how this level of the court system actually adjudicates the legality of other court decisions.
To top off the day, Matt Castelli, candidate for U.S. Congressional District 21 challenging Elise Stefanik, came and met volunteers, spoke with the public, and shared some delicious BBQ chicken from Ten Pin Catering, along with fresh brew from Wayward Lane Brewery. Castelli fielded questions about how his views represent those who would be his constituents, and he spoke clearly and definitively about how most people here believe in background checks and legal gun ownership and protecting a woman’s right to choose if and when to have a family; making it quite clear that he is willing to straddle the middle ground along with most voters. His deep support of law enforcement and issues of homeland security may rankle his opponent, since his career and actions have been consistent on this.
One person asked him about the road signs about Stefanik “backing the blue” and he pointed out that her voting record on funding and programs for the police is far worse than that of “AOC,” according to some police associations. He warned that voters need to see beyond the rhetoric and partisanship or democracy will hang in the balance.
Would you like to get involved? COME TO COBLESKILL THIS SUNDAY, October 30, or next Saturday and Sunday, November 5 and 6, from 10-2 to: - pick up a list of voters to visit, - learn about phone banking, or - pick up a yard sign.
There will be volunteers at the Jeff Tufano Gallery 548 E Main Street in Cobleskill throughout these times. This is the moment we can make the most difference. Join us! Sign up here. |
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Volunteers Writing Postcards with Nick Chase |
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Matt Castelli Speaking with Folks Over a Brew |
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Eric Ball, Matt Castelli & Nick Chase |
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A Conversation with Nick Chase, Candidate for 102nd Assembly District |
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Nick Chase was inspired by his high school students to run for the 102nd New York State Assembly Seat. Through conversations, he discovered his students blamed Democrats for everything wrong with society, from high gas prices to COVID-19, and he wants to change that perception. One of his main reasons for running is to ensure upstate New York is a place for his students to live, work and start families after graduation. Currently employed in the 102nd district as a high school English teacher in Schenevus, Nick grew up close by in Davenport, just outside of Oneonta, and lives next door to his childhood home. His sense of place is reflected in his priorities, and if elected, would be shown in his choice of Assembly committees he would like to serve on: Education, Higher Education, Agriculture and Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry. His top three priorities are: more funding for rural schools, lower property taxes for small farmers, and affordable housing throughout the 102nd district. Teaching virtually during the first days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chase saw first-hand the problem of rural broadband access. Students, without access to the internet, were unable to participate in daily classes and their learning suffered. While his experience with lack of broadband access is through the educational lens, he knows the lack of broadband access in rural areas is a detriment for all residents and businesses. Increasing funding for broadband access across the 102nd district and upstate is an important issue for him as he believes the availability of broadband access is intertwined with economic growth. Chase, 21, feels his youth is an advantage in his campaign. Electing a young representative for the 102nd District in Albany could help keep younger people in the region and attract newcomers. He would be able to advocate for younger people on such issues as affordable housing and good paying jobs. He, like many young district residents, sees the internet as not only a way to communicate, but as an essential function for start-ups and small businesses. The Micron microchip factory to be built in Syracuse, and the projected 50,000 jobs to accompany it, show that manufacturing can return to the area, along with jobs to keep and attract new people to New York. Government incentives can wield influence and encourage this kind of development. As a resident of the western part of the 102nd, Chase has grown up near Schoharie County and is familiar with the scenic farmland so well known throughout the region. He sees Schoharie as an integral part of the district, especially since it is one of two counties entirely within the district. When he is not preparing lessons for his students, he spends time outdoors. Perhaps that is why he says Schoharie County is one of his favorite places to visit. If he is successful in the election, he’ll have even more reasons to visit.
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2023 IS COMING SOON ….
Yes, the November 8 election looms larger than life as this newsletter hits your inbox, BUT 2023 will also be full of opportunities for playing an active role in Schoharie County government! All the local town supervisors will be up for election. Supervisors have a critical role in getting anything done in each town or village. Consider supporting Democratic candidates – and even the idea of running for office YOURSELF! Not only are the supervisor jobs up for election, but several board posts will be open for a serious contest if Democrats throw hats in the ring.
In the past, SCDC has provided some financial support to local candidates, as well as printed materials that are useful in local canvassing. Every town will benefit from an ACTIVE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. So clear a little space in your calendar!
At the next couple of SCDC meetings, how the county democratic committee can help support our local candidates will definitely come up for discussion. GET INVOLVED. It’s okay to join a working committee even if you are not an elected town rep.
Whatever happens on November 8th, this election cycle will pass, and we Democrats will gain momentum and move on to the next cycle. Spreading the power of choice is a critical part of how our democracy will survive. |
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TOWN HAPPENINGS:
11/8/2022 Wright: Town Board Election. It is unusual for town board elections to occur during even numbered years. Due to a recent resignation from the board, the Town of Wright will decide between two candidates to complete a one-year term. Democrats support Rae Jean Teeter, a longtime resident of the town. She and her family raise sheep and donkeys. She is passionate about history and supports the Gallupville House. Rae is easy to approach and is a good listener. She has great experience and skill to offer the board. |
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CONNECT & FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA SCDC Website - to get involved, with links to all our social media Schoharie County Democratic Committee on FB - for issues, events, inspiration @SchoharieDems on Twitter for breaking news and commentary schohariecountydems on Instagram Your likes and comments are inspiring! |
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Chairwoman: Theresa Heary- info@schohariedemocrats.org SCDC Committees: |
