Jones, Chilton run for 115th district

PLATTSBURGH | Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay) and Stephen Chilton (R-Ellenburg) are vying for the New York State Assembly 115th district. Assemblymembers are the most localized state representative. They, along with the New York State Senate, make up the legislative branch of New York State's government. The position goes up for re-election every two years. With redistricting, the 115th district will now include Jay, Keene, St. Armand, Wilmington and North Elba. Billy Jones' interest in government started early. He started as mayor of Chateaugay from 2009 to 2013. He was then a Franklin County legislator from 2010 to 2016. His interest in politics comes from seeing his family members involved in it and his interest in helping people. Prior to his career in politics, Jones ran his family's dairy farm for about five years, right after he graduated from high school. "One thing that you learn growing up on a farm and working on a farm, is to work. Work more and work harder, and know that the job is never done," Jones said. "I've taken that philosophy into politics. it's a never-ending process because there is always work to be done." Next, he worked as a corrections officer for 20 years. He worked swing shifts, allowing him enough time to get involved in community activities and politics during the day. He was first elected assemblyman in 2016 and has held the position ever since. One thing he is proud of is his accessibility. He is often out in the community at businesses, non-profits and events of all kinds. "I give a lot of credit to my staff for getting me to places," Jones said. "Accessibility, I think, is very important. People want to see their representatives, they want to see that they're out actually talking to people instead of just in Albany or in Washington, or in their comfortable environment." You have to get out and you have to talk to people." One issue he is particularly focused on right now is inflation. This year he voted to eliminate the state gas tax. Jones said there is only so much that can be done for inflation on the state level, but he wants to get money back into people's pockets they would otherwise pay for taxes. He recently proposed legislation to eliminate tax on home heating fuel for middle-income families. "From what I'm hearing from a lot of people, middle-class families, they're going to struggle with home heating costs this winter," Jones said. "We're trying to capture the people that don't necessarily qualify for other like HEAP and other government programs." Another issue he is focused on is the worker shortage. "[The shortage] also ties into housing affordability, transportation, and childcare," Jones said. "When you talk about major issues, there are so many other things that go along with it. Employers get it, they know that their employees need certain things to live here in the area: housing affordability, transportation and daycare, [they're all] huge issues." If re-elected, Jones hopes to continue working to expand infrastructure. "Infrastructure includes broadband, it includes your roads and bridges, but it also includes the stuff you don't see like your water," Jones said. Jones said broadband buildout is an issue he has been working on for a while and isn't done. "We continue to get calls from people that don't have high-speed internet access, or if they have the access, they can't get it to their homes," Jones said. "We've done a lot of work in that field to help people out. We used to call it "the last mile" with the North Country here, I call it the last to several miles." Jones also said public safety is a priority. He has been endorsed by multiple law enforcement agencies including the New York State Police Investigators Association and New York State Troopers PBA. "I'm pro-law enforcement, I come from law enforcement," Jones said. "I think we need to allow them to do their jobs and get them the tools that they need. People need to feel secure and public safety is a huge issue in that." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Chilton III, born and raised in Ellenburg, decided to run for assembly because he doesn't feel like the "average taxpayer" has a voice. "I feel like the government is getting away from people," Chilton said. "We are in the human industry. We're in the business of people. And we should be thinking about people when we make our decisions." Chilton has worked a variety of jobs. He was a cook, worked in several types of construction, owned apartments and was direct support staff for the ARC. "I've taken care of people with disabilities and that's another thing we lack around here is child services for people with disabilities," Chilton said. "We should be paying those folks more that are in those types of services because that is critical care, we cannot do without these folks." Chilton's grandfather owned a dairy farm, so he grew up learning about the industry. He now does some farming of his own, raising pigs and chickens on his property for his family. He believes it is important to know where one's food comes from and localize it as much as possible. If elected, he hopes to get more local farmers' food in local schools and prisons. "I think we should definitely boost up our farming industry and use the farm bureaus because they know our farmers the best," Chilton said. "Our restaurants could have the best food around really because it would be coming basically from farm to plate." Chilton was also a corrections officer for two years. "I resigned. I don't regret that decision at all," Chilton said. "Correction is a negative job, there's nothing positive really that comes out of that. I mean, you're going to the place where people have done very bad things. I commend every one of those people because it's not an easy job." Chilton has worked his current job, as a delivery driver for UPS, for 20 years. "Now I deliver a package and people smile," Chilton said. "It's a different atmosphere." Chilton believes there are many pressing issues currently facing the 115th district, but his main focuses are on, education, the cost of living and bringing more people to New York state. If elected, Chilton hopes to bring more people to New York state by making the 115th district a more "business-friendly atmosphere." He said better-paying jobs will bring in more people to fill said jobs, therefore helping the worker shortage the district, and the entire state, is experiencing. He also believes bringing more people to the state will lower taxes. I wish people were coming to New York to lessen the burden of tax, but they're not," Chilton said. "They're leaving New York." Chilton does not think education should be centralized. He believes education should be more localized, with a curriculum created by each county with some guidance from the state. "We are the taxpayers, we want a say on what we're teaching our kids in school," Chilton said. The 2022 New York State Assembly election will be held Nov. 8.

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Jones, Chilton run for 115th district

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