Endorsement Statement
Citizen Voices is a group of Oneonta area business people who support and encourage pragmatic solutions to the challenges facing Otsego County. The list includes declining school enrollments, an aging population, fiscal distress for our municipalities, decaying infra-structure and a lack of career opportunities. To address these issues we must increase tax dollars without raising taxes and this necessitates an increase in both the tax base and sales tax revenues. We must also create a welcoming business climate and a pro-growth economic environment. With a responsible approach, Otsego County can be open to business and industry while protecting the beauty of the area and preserving our natural resources. Going forward, we must stop focusing on what we oppose and collectively agree on those actions that will support economic development and create well-paying jobs for present and future generations.
We can only achieve positive results with elected officials who demonstrate dynamic leadership and independent thinking. They must be consensus builders who will place the greater good above niche issues and political dogma. Citizen Voices endorses the following candidates because we believe they exemplify these characteristics:
County Treasurer: Dan Crowell; County Representatives: Edwin Frazier,Jr. – District 1, James Powers – District 2, Kathy Clark – District 3, Janet Hurley Quackenbush – District 4, Donald Lindberg – District 6, Beth Rosenthal – District 7, Rick Hulse, Jr. – District 8, Craig Gelbsman – District 12, Linda Rowinski – District 13 and Katherine Stuligross – District 14; Town of Oneonta Councilman: Brett Holleran and Fred Volpe; Mayor of Oneonta: Richard Miller.
In a number of cases Citizens Voices was unable to make an endorsement because we did not have the opportunity to interview the candidate(s).
Citizens Voices Interview Committee,
Robert Harlem, Dave Rowley, Tom Armao, Richard Harlem, Mitchell Lynch, Phil Wright, Chris Amos and Jamie Reynolds