CONESVILLE — Speeches filled the pleasantly cool air on this fall day as more than 50 people attended a candidate meet-and-greet at the Conesville home of John and Cathy Riedl on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 4.
Sharing their vision and goals with the receptive crowd were Democratic candidates for office Blake Gendebien (U.S. Congress), Michele Frazier (State Senate) and Janet Tweed (State Assembly). Gendebien is running against Republican Anthony Constantino and Independent/Write-In Christopher Schmidt in the NY 21st Congressional District; Frazier is opposing Chris Tague in NY State Senate District 51; and Tweed is running against Republican Marc Molinaro in NY State Assembly District 102.
Organizers of the Oct. 4 Conesville event, held by a group called Conesville Matters, said Democrats, Independents and Republicans were among those attending the community gathering. Among the attendees were Town of Conesville candidates for office Joanne Noone (Town Supervisor), Martha Young (Tax Collector) and Carrie Sutton (incumbent Town Clerk). This newspaper will be doing a separate story on the town election that will appear soon.
In his remarks on Oct. 4, Gendebien emphasized his rural roots and strong ties to the district he feels need to be represented strongly in Congress. He and his wife Carmen own and operate a 1,200-acre dairy farm in Lisbon in the farm northern end of the 21st Congressional District.
Gendebien is a graduate and former school board member at Lisbon Central School, where he also coached basketball and from where his three sons also graduated. He lamented what he called the "Illegal" war in Iran that has led to sky high gasoline and diesel prices.
"We pay the price for decisions made in Washington, D.C. over and over again," Gendebien said. "The rising cost of diesel hurts farmers, it hurts everyone. It's a crushing amount for farmers. They are going out of business left and right."
He added that his deep experience and knowledge of problems faced in rural America make him the right choice for Congress.
"I'm shocked at how many in D.C. don't know that our first responders out here are volunteers," Gendebien said. "We need more primary care physicians. We need a serious full court press on bringing more primary care physicians into rural America. We need more reliable transportation for rural America.
"We need somebody local who understands what living here is all about. I want to support our farms because agriculture is really important. I need your help. Put on your sneakers and tell our story to everyone you possibly can."
Health care, housing and a fair share were the touchstones of Frazier's remarks.
"I had a guy in a wheelchair come up to me the other day and say you need to do something about health care," said Frazier, a Delhi resident. "I have to take my son on long rides to get him the health care he needs. I will fight to improve health care.
"Housing for me is extremely important. I sell real estate, and there's something beautiful about people finding their homes. I will fight to make sure we have not only affordable but obtainable housing."
On the fair share theme, Frazier said "we have billionaires and large corporations rigging the system. I'm going to Albany to make sure we don't have a rigged system against our neighbors and they can eat every single day.
"We have to do it together. You're it. You're the Blue Wave. I need you all to knock on a door, talk to a friend. That's what it will take for us to make change."
Tweed, a Village Trustee in Delhi and a physical therapist for 20 years, reiterated her support for the New York Health Act she said would bring adequate health care to all New Yorkers.
"There's a lot more we can do at the state level to support and protect communities," she said. "I support you. I want to help municipalities do their jobs in providing for their citizens."
Photo: Blake Gendebien speaks at an Oct. 4 candidate meet-and-greet in Conesville.
