List of Stefanik opponents growing
Greenwich town supervisor enters race for Congress
SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » The field of Democrats hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik continues to grow, as Greenwich town Supervisor Sara Idleman has announced her candidacy for the 21st District race.
Idleman and seven others took part in a Sunday forum where congressional candidates discussed issues and their reasons for running at the Moreau Community Center, with more than 200 people on hand. Stefanik declined an invitation to the event, sponsored by the group Citizens Acting Together for District 21. Republican Russell Finley, of St. Lawrence County, plans to challenge Stefanik in GOP and Conservative Party primaries, but couldn’t attend because of a family medical emergency.
“Elise Stefanik doesn’t know the district,” said Idleman, a former history and government teacher who was raised on an Easton dairy farm. “I’ve lived here, I’ve worked here my entire life. I know the people. She doesn’t.”
In 2009, Idleman was the first woman ever elected to the Greenwich Town Board. She has run successfully for office five times, mostly recently in November. Idleman said her proven electability in a heavily-Republican town makes her a good choice to challenge Stefanik, who is seeking a third term, this fall.
The other Democrats include Ron Kim of Queensbury, an attorney and former Saratoga Springs public safety commissioner; and Patrick Nelson of Stillwater, a full-time campaign worker for retired U.S. Army Col. Mike Derrick, who challenged Stefanik in 2016. Nelson also did extensive volunteer work for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. His father is former Stillwater Mayor Rick Nelson.
Patrick Nelson has pledged not to accept cam-
paign donations from lobbyists or corporate political action committees. He criticized the Democratic Party for trying to outspend Republicans and becoming “the party of high finance and big business.”
Money isn’t the answer, he said, as Democrats outspent the GOP 2-to-1 in the 2016 presidential race, and put $23 million toward a highly-prized congressional race and lost in both instances.
Kim called for tougher laws, with strict penalties, to curb the widespread problem of sexual harassment.
Of the eight Democrats, five are women including single mom and small business owner Katie Wilson, of Keene, who said challenging Stefanik is a “David and Goliath” type contest. None of the candidates have held office higher than the local level.
However, Wilson said Trump’s election, and that of others from both parties, proves this is a good time for political outsiders who can inspire ordinary citizens to go to the polls.
All candidates condemned the recently-passed Republican-sponsored tax bill, which they said will widen the gap between America’s working poor and middle class and the country’s wealthiest residents.
“This is one of the most undemocratic bills we have seen passed in Congress,” said Emily Martz, of Saranac Lake, a former Paul Smith’s College instructor and past executive director of the Adirondack North Country Association, which she left to run full-time for Congress.
Other candidates have varied backgrounds.
Tanya Boone, of Granville, is a former union organizer currently employed as national sales operations manager for GE Healthcare. She graduated from the Cornell University School of Industrial Relations and holds a master’s of business administration degree.
Vischer Ferry native and Cambridge resident Don Boyajian was a legislative aide to former U.S. Rep. Michael E. McMahon, DStaten Island, also worked in the state attorney general’s office, and is currently town attorney for several local municipalities.
Tedra Cobb, of Canton, is a former St. Lawrence County legislator who has worked in the healthcare field.
This was the fifth candidates forum hosted by Citizens Acting Together for District 21. The group, comprising residents in the greater Glens Falls area of Warren and Saratoga counties, says its mission is to increase community involvement in the democratic process.
Another forum is planned in February.