To the Editor:

We all are pretty much consumed by the national presidential elections, but let’s not forget our local elections too. On your ballot will be candidates for Congress and State Assembly, among others. I support Congressman Paul Tonko and Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy respectively. They have been stalwart supporters of our village, our schools, the environment, and restoring our infrastructures.

But let’s not forget that a new public servant has stepped up to the plate to represent us in the New York State Senate. Her name is Michele Hinchey, the daughter of long-time Congressman Maurice Hinchey, one of our state representatives in Washington who worked tirelessly on our behalf. She embodies his best qualities of civil service, never backing down and always working for the betterment of his constituents.

It’s clear that Michelle is working already to build partnerships that will be crucial to bolstering the overall economy of the 46th Senate District. I hope that my fellow voters understand the importance of these partnerships in making progress in the Capitol Region a reality — a goal in which we all have a stake.

As the former mayor of Altamont, I know how important it is to have representatives who have a strong voice to help Altamont and our surrounding community to meet our infrastructure needs, resources for public safety and  public schools, and preserving our rural environment.  I trust Michelle Hinchey to be that upstate voice for us in Albany.

I see that she already is working to be a partner with leaders in our district, at the county and town levels.  She has been endorsed wholeheartedly by Sheriff Craig Apple, County Executive Dan McCoy, and Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber, not to mention many working groups and health, education, and environmental organizations.

Having Michelle in the majority conference would be crucial to ensuring that issues critical to our area are not being overlooked by a majority made up of primarily downstate senators.

Michelle has highlighted the need to bring green and renewable energy jobs to our area. To keep our economy growing, we need an upstate voice in the majority that will help our area to grow and be competitive for these new industries.

A vote for Michelle Hinchey is a vote for better jobs, and for a better economy that allows our young people to stay in the area. She’s also deeply focused on expanding broadband, using her 10 years of experience in communications to ensure that our rural areas are able to compete and not fall deeper into the digital divide.

You can vote early at one of the designated early in-person voting locations until Nov. 1,  by mail, or in person on election day itself.  For me, the choice is clear, I’ll be voting for Michelle Hinchey and I ask you to join me.

James Gaughan

Altamont