State Senate candidates discuss vision for the North Country

PLATTSBURGH | With State Sen. Betty Little stepping down after 17 years representing the 45th district, fellow Republican Assemblyman Dan Stec and Clinton County Treasurer Kimberly Davis are running to fill the vacancy this November. Stec said on major policy issues, he tends to agree with Little. "I've known Betty for decades. I work with her as a local official and then these last eight years closely as an Assemblymember," said Stec. Stec said in the back his mind he always thought it would be appropriate to fill the seat when Little decided it was time to retire. In working so closely with her office, he said he's built relationships that will allow him to continue the work she's done. "I've been working with all these departments for the commissioners. I have a very unique and close relationship with DEC because I'm the ranking member of the Assembly on the Environmental Conservation Committee," he said. "The issues don't change. My title changes from Assembly to Senate and where I sit - if I'm sitting in the Senate chamber or the Assembly chamber - but the issues don't change, the legislation doesn't change." His past experience and current relationships will allow him to hit the ground running, he said. "It is a natural progression for a member of the assembly to run for a vacant senate seat, and it is just because you have such a huge advantage - not just politically in a campaign but in serving the constituents." While most likely serving in the minority should he be elected, Stec said he has a long history of working across the aisle - something that has been necessary throughout his career. A new voice for the North Country Davis said that growing up in a Republican family, she has the ability to put herself in the shoes of the opposition party. Both parties working together will be important for the region, she said, and important for the country if we want to move past the partisan rhetoric so common in politics today. "I think everyone goes into public service - or you hope that they go into public service - to help people," Davis said. "And I'm very appreciative of the job I do as treasurer, but I don't get to change laws or write laws to correct things that I see need to be corrected or improved." With rhetoric from Republicans nationally seemingly demonizing a large portion of those they swore an oath to represent, she said her vision is one in which she represents everyone regardless of party affiliation. "I work with both Republican and Democratic legislators here in the county and I have a good relationship with all of them. So, you need to have that ability to listen to opposing views, keeping your own viewpoint in check." With the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging local economies throughout the state, we've had to look at reducing spending as much as possible. However, she said the solution is not to raise taxes. "We can't get out of this on the backs of property tax holders, raising taxes. It's not going to be the way to recover from this. So, we certainly have to look at other measures, but part of that is because the state is cutting their budgets." She said her experience as treasurer will help with those tough decisions moving forward. One of the main issues moving forward, as many other politicians including her challenger agree, is providing broadband internet access across the region. With the necessity of telehealth and remote learning during the pandemic, the region can no longer go without. "It's not a luxury anymore. This is a basic necessity," she stressed. "This is like water. We rely on this so much."

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State Senate candidates discuss vision for the North Country

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