Opinion - Cobleskill, Its Time for a Change - Freitag for Mayor

COBLESKILL — Cobleskill, I know that our community can do better. I say our community as Cobleskill runs in my veins. I live in Middleburgh but attended SUNY Cobleskill at 17 and have worked at the college for the last 15+ years. I’ve seen Cobleskill’s ups and downs since I was a kid and I want the best for the engine of our county’s economy.

We’ve been missing that for years.

A photo that I wanted to place with this op-ed was the banner saying that Family Dollar was closing— but by the time I came back it was already down. It was symbolic of so many lost opportunities faced by the community. There have been chances to work better with business groups and the college, the withdrawal of the village from the Schoharie County Village Officers’ Association, the slashing of police coverage, the lecturing of the volunteer fire department, a fight over dogs and whether the water belonged to the mayor or to the people, and much much more.

I know what local leadership means. For 14 years I served on the Middleburgh village board, including building and working with the team that turned the community around. My eight years as mayor and working with various local public officials (including incumbent Mayor Becky Stanton-Terk) allowed me to see what works and what doesn’t.

Whatever is being tried in Cobleskill just isn’t working. 

RJ Freitag has the experience. He has a law enforcement background. He served on an elected city council. He’s run his own business. RJ is friendly, responsive, responsible, and is just a good guy. He has an actual detailed plan for the community that he clearly put thought into. In last week’s article, I faithfully used the answers from each candidate in last week’s example. Each got a chance to review their interviews before they were published. However, I had to cut about three-quarters of RJ’s answers because I didn’t have the physical space in the paper. The man has put in the work and wants to build a Cobleskill that is safer, a better business environment, and more responsive to the average person. Do you think it’s any coincidence he has so much support from fire personnel, former police officials, village officers, Town Clerk Tina Ward, and former Mayor (and my friend) Linda Holmes? They’ve seen the difference and they have taken a clear side. So have I.

Take it from two successful former mayors who want Cobleskill to shine: RJ Freitag is the only way to make that happen. These races often come down to several votes. Cobleskill’s future is in your hands.