By Matthew Avitabile
MIDDLEBURGH - Several dozen people came to the Middleburgh Community Center Sunday to hear Democratic Party candidates for state office speak on Sunday. Former Middleburgh Town Supervisor Jim Buzon opened the event with a moment of silence for Renee Good, who was shot and killed during the Minneapolis altercation with ICE agents.
Schoharie County Board of Elections official Sara Masterson updated the crowd about upcoming events and dates for election, and the fact that there is a new Schoharie County website.
Former NYS Secretary of State Gail Shaffer received a positive response from the crowd speaking about state and national politics, calling 2026 a "pivotal year" and one facing, in her opinion, challenges to our "very democracy." She said that almost half of the country "seem to not believe in democracy anymore" and that in the midterm elections "we need to get Democratic voters out." She also cited the need to "field qualified candidates."
Several candidates seeking state Senate and Assembly seats spoke in turn, each receiving questions from an enthusiastic audience. Michele Frazier said, "I'm back," citing her run for office several years ago. She said that she had put 13,000 miles in her 2024 candidacy for state Senate District 51. She plans to "double it" this year. She said, "We need a fighter for universal healthcare" and sought policies to expand access to housing.
"We cannot accept" bad housing that does not allow people to live "safe and stable lives," she said.
"I refuse to live in a state with billionaires sipping their martinis on yachts" while residents can't feed themselves, she said. She cited recent cuts to SNAP assistance.
She also said that each person can "be a star" to "make society brighter."
"We're going to light it up," she said.
Tom Boomhower is seeking the 102nd Assembly District seat currently held by former Schoharie Town Supervisor Chris Tague, who is running for state Senate District 51 this year. Boomhower said that he is a lifelong resident of Greene County and serves on the Catskill Village Board.
He said that the current political system promotes "people who stand for nothing but election."
Boomhower quoted the Gettysburg Address, adding that he feels like the government has no longer lived to its role of being of, by, and from the people. He wants a system "powered by the people," citing his time in public policy and public service. He has worked for both houses of the NYS Legislature.
Boomhower said that he would prioritize rural healthcare and childcare access while fighting for universal health and childcare. He said that he learned much from his mother, a lifelong "advocate for public service." He started volunteering on local campaigns as a young man, adding that his mother is a "rockstar."
His time working for the State Senate included helping craft legislation to help local library. He also worked implementing the Microenterprise Grant Program in Greene County.
Delhi Village Trustee Janet Tweed cited her experience, including her previous service on the Town Board, as a physical therapist, and as a Rotarian. She said that while political leaders have complained a lot about Downstate, they could be "focusing on rural health." She cited the experience of the school-based health system. If elected to the state assembly, she would seek loan forgiveness for rural workers. Tweed added that she sought to "fundamentally change" the country, including through the potential New York Health Act.
Tweed also advocated changes to how municipal funding is distributed from the state, changing the existing grant structure. Currently, larger municipalities can get more grants. The changes, she said, would make sure that the 102nd District would "no longer be a flyover district."
Assembly candidate Mary Finneran also cited her extensive experience as an activist and in education. She cited her five years on the Cairo Library Board, as an art teacher, and on the Sierra Club Executive Committee.
She said that she was "very well-versed" in the legislative process. Finneran added that she is a member of Democratic Socialists of America and is endorsed by the environmental group Third Act of New York. "We're in an emergency," she said, "A climate emergency."
Finneran cited a renewed effort by the federal government to approve the Constitution Pipeline and expand capacity of existing pipelines.
She sought to fight "climate chaos," which she tied to "affordability" and "food insecurity." Finneran cited her hope to fight against the lack of affordable healthcare and food in the district. She also strongly advocated against shipping sewage sludge from New York City Upstate for storage, citing potential health hazards for people and livestock due to the chemicals in the sewage.
Resident Katherine Hawkins asked several questions of the candidates, citing recent events in Venezuela. Since some local officials supported American efforts there, Hawkins said that she was "Tired of people of my ilk people threatened by the President of the United States," referring to transgender people.
"No one's holding those who threatened me accountable,” Hawkins said, also mentioning the Minneapolis ICE shooting.
Frazier argued that New York's bail reform efforts showed that it was "about inequality, not a crime problem." She further said that she supported "programs to help our trans folks" and the "need to support networks for services for kids" similar to the JANE Collective program that performed underground abortions in Chicago in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Boomhower said that he would "stand for trans kids" and that he would fight against federal policies "no matter how evil they want to be."
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