Ostrelich looking to unseat state Sen. Tedisco
ROUND LAKE, N.Y. » A day after launching her state Senate campaign in Schenectady County, Michelle Ostrelich spoke to people at the Round Lake Auditorium on Thursday morning.
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, former Saratoga Springs mayor Joanne Yepsen and Malta Town council member Cynthia Young spoke about their support for the first time candidate.
Woerner said it was appropriate to be in Round Lake to launch Ostrelich’s bid in Saratoga County for New York’s 49th State Senate District.
Ostrelich, a Democrat, is looking to challenge state Sen. James Tedisco, R-Glenville.
“Round Lake through its nearly 150 year history has been a place of strong community, a place with strong values for helping one’s neighbor, a place where nobody in need is ever alone; and I think that represents a real positive backdrop for kicking off Michelle’s campaign, because Michelle is a leader who cares,” said Woerner. “A leader who cares about her community, a leader who cares about the individuals who live in that community, a leader who is committed to strengthening the community, and that is what Round Lake has been about it and that’s what I know Michelle is going to be when she represents Round Lake in the Senate.”
Ostrelich, who resides in Niskayuna, practiced law in Philadelphia before moving to Upstate New York in 2005. In addition to being a stay-at-home parent, Ostrelich currently serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals for the town of Niskayuna, the Board of Directors for the Niskayuna Community Foundation and as a trustee for the Schenectady Jewish Community Center.
In her kick-off speech, Ostrelich mentioned her two
daughters, 10 and 13, asking if they will be able to pursue their passions, if they will be able to go to college without being saddled with crippling student debt and if there will be jobs when they graduate that pay a living wage. Ostrelich’s main talking points included schools being fully funded with the Foundation Aid money still owed by the state, creating a strong local economy and New Yorkers deserving universal healthcare.
“We have the opportunity right now to start this legacy. We have the opportunity to do so many things together — invest in clean energy, close the wage gap, grow the middle class and narrow this dangerous divide between the haves and the have-nots, guarantee a woman’s right to choose, end discrimination in all of its forms and assure full civil and human rights,” said Ostrelich. “We will never [get] the change we want until we change the decision makers.”
Yepsen told the crowd why she’s supporting Ostrelich.
“People respect her, they listen to her, and she listens to them, and that’s really important, because if you don’t listen and if you aren’t out with the people, understanding and having a pulse on the communities that you represent, then it doesn’t go anywhere,” said Yepsen.
Tedisco was elected in 2016 to represent the 49th Senate District. The district includes all of Fulton and Hamilton Counties as well as parts of Herkimer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties.