By Monique Tirion
The mid-terms are over and they were so much less stressful than the 2020 election! And our local results don’t look half bad (with one exception). Our new State Senator, Dan Stec, is experienced and savvy and a graduate of Clarkson University. He seems eager to embrace Potsdam’s future developments. Scott Gray, who replaces Marck Walzcyk as our State Assemblyperson, also has lengthy credentials as a civil servant. Everyone seemed to agree from the outset that acting Surrogate Judge Michelle Holmes Ladouceur was doing a great job, and will now thankfully continue in that capacity. Dave Haggard has served the needs of our county in many capacities and will continue to serve as Potsdam’s Town Justice. And finally, of the 15 County Legislators, most are now from a single party, which might make getting things done easier? One can hope anyway. Of those 15 races, only 5 were contested. The result is that eleven members of the next County Board are Republican, 3 are Democrat and one ran as a Democrat, a Republican and a Conservative (John Burke). His Republican and Conservative tallies earned 60% of his total votes.
So the one cloud over our local political scene, as I see it, is the lack of support from our federal House member, Elise Stefanik. Most recently, board members and staff of the village drafted an impressive application for a “Congressionally Directed Spending Grant,” in order to keep our police department’s dispatch center operating. Our current dispatch center, which responds to 911 and 265-2121 calls to send Rescue, Fire and/or Police personnel to active scenes, is over 20 years old and made of components that are no longer made nor serviced. At some point our officers may be reduced to using walky talkies to communicate with people in the field. Everyone was sure that this project would receive full support from our Congressional House representative, but her office dismissed the application out of hand, with no clarifications, suggestions nor advice for how to draft a better document or indeed, where else to seek this essential funding. (We’re talking about a $220,000 investment). So I had truly hoped for another occupant in DC to fight for our needs.
On the other hand, a friend who had waited nearly 2 years for her renewal green card, asked Congressional Senators Gillibrand and Schumer for assistance, and their offices had her document Federal Expressed to her home within 7 days. So we do, thankfully, retain active support from our Congressional Senate delegation.
There’s much work to do, I hope we continue to work together to improve life in the North Country.
Local Government Matters 