Editor:

I am writing regarding the most recent SCOPE meeting. The opportunity for the community to come together, share concerns and seek solutions can only have positive results.

It was appreciated that our county-elected Legislators Lynne Johnson, Ed Morgan and Don Allport attended to give input and rationale to many issues presented.

However, while disagreement is often natural and necessary, practical solutions resulting in a change of mind, and or, a change of a course of action, come about when dialogue is respectful and not hostile.

While a few in the audience appeared hostile and negative, it was encouraging that most were respectful and offered constructive suggestions for many issues raised.

Hopefully future meetings will continue to emphasize transparency, civility and open discourse.

Public engagement in various issues presented are best received where people know that their input is valued and appreciated.

Thank you to all who organized and participated in last week’s SCOPE meeting.

Bruce R. Schmidt

Gaines

Editor:

To the many volunteers who took the time to brave the cold and knock on doors, thank you for your efforts in gathering petition signatures for me to get on the ballot. That was a lot of precious time and energy.

I needed 500 signatures to earn my name on the ballot this November. Together we collected over 1,000! Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer their phones to talk with me about what issues matter to you. Thank you to those who believe in me and have, in some capacity, already contributed to my campaign.

For those of you who have doubts, I would like to share some information. The only qualifications to run for state assembly are being a US citizen, 18 years old, a resident of the state for 5 years, and a resident of the district for 12 months preceding election.

My qualifications: Born in USA, 43 years old, NY resident my entire life, district resident my entire life minus a few years in my 20s in neighboring counties. If they are willing to potentially let 18 years hold the same office, I think I am more than capable of learning the job.

From the start of my activism I have always been clear that I’m not hiding. There’s resources that tell people where I am and when I’ll be there. I encourage you to come talk to me in person. You might be surprised how much we have in common.

The very first article ever written about me was last year for the April 5th Hands off protest. In the article there was a picture of me holding a sign that said “hands off our bodies.” There were definitely hundreds of other topics I could have picked instead but it was no accident choosing this one.

I knew it would be controversial and get people talking. I was immediately met with an onslaught of nasty comments and character critics from total strangers. Still I persisted. I showed up on the day of the protest and made a point to talk to as many of the 300 participants that I could.

I went on to organize a handful more protests and every time I was met with the same response. Seeing other people trying to do something, anything, in a time that is discouraging and isolating gave them hope.

As I kept meeting more and more new people, something else became a common topic, that a majority of people feel misrepresented or underrepresented by their elected officials. When I would ask them who specifically I got the same response, all of them. From the community members on the town boards to the congressional representatives, and everyone in between. People are looking for change. Too many of our races for office are uncontested. Meaning candidates were/are running unopposed, which is an automatic win.

People should have a choice. Given the state of our country we are a heavily divided nation between two parties. If anyone had a chance at getting traction as an opponent I had to run as a democrat. I have always been a no party voter and even now with a D after my name on the ballot I still vote for the better candidate. I didn’t want to primary Mr. Hawley, I wanted to run against him. If I was going to win I wanted it to be earned not handed to me because I beat him in a primary. Political races should be contested. Every race, every seat, every time.

Running for office for me isn’t difficult. Burying your best friend you had had since kindergarten at age 33. That’s difficult. Knowing they died from a completely treatable condition, because they had no health insurance and were too proud to apply for Medicaid, even though they were the exact person that system was designed for. That’s difficult.

Navigating a cancer diagnosis alone, weeks after burying that friend. That’s difficult. Having cancer removal surgery a few months later and having to ask co-workers for a ride to and from the hospital, because your family couldn’t be bothered to return one day early from being snowbirds. That’s difficult. Having to support yourself, with no one else helping to pay the bills, no one to help with dishes, the laundry, the cooking. That’s difficult.

Navigating a broken healthcare system, with chronic undiagnosed medical issues and being told there’s nothing wrong with you, even though you’re living it so you know that’s not true. That’s difficult. Having to drop out of college, 12 credits from earning your bachelor’s degree, because you ran out of money and all the resources to keep going. Thus meaning having to pivot and figure something else out for your life, giving up on your hopes and dreams. That’s difficult.

Being told your whole life you aren’t good enough by the same people who are supposed to love you unconditionally. That’s difficult. Being a statistic of sexual assault by a family member and having no one believe you. That’s difficult.

So no, running for office, that’s not difficult. Dealing with internet trolls and hate speech from people who have never met me or don’t know my story. That’s not difficult. Other people’s opinions of me are none of my business.

All winter long I’ve been proving my point of not hiding by wearing my bright red coat. I’m sure you’ve seen me, I’m hard to miss, 6 feet tall bright red coat. I’m not hiding. Come talk to me. I’m sure you’ll find we have a lot more in common than you think. If I win this election I will be a representative of everyone. I want to hear from everyone, regardless of political affiliations. I want to be an advocate for the betterment of everyone. I don’t care if you have an R or D after your name. I don’t care if we don’t agree on every issue. We should work together to make a better place for everyone.

Why should people have to stay in their circumstances just because they were born into them? No one asks to be born, and no one really gets to decide where they are born. We all bleed red, we all have hearts, and lungs, and livers, and kidneys. We are all the same inside.

So why are we so divided by what’s on the outside? Hate is a learned behavior. Choose kindness, compassion and love. At the end of the day we all are going to die at some time. So why spend life making it harder for someone else? Choose kindness, compassion and love. I have worked a lot of jobs and have seen a lot of ugliness. Choose kindness, compassion and love.

I’m your Doordash driver. I know the struggles of living paycheck to paycheck, I live it every day. I also work a blue collar factory job. I  know what it means to get your hands dirty or work 60+ hour weeks to keep a roof over your head and food in your belly. I’ve sat near you in local restaurants, movie theaters, and bars.

Running for office was never about me. It’s about advocating for my friends and neighbors at a table that has the potential to make a difference. I’m not afraid, I’m not hiding, so come find me. Let’s chat.

Sarah Wolcott

Batavia

Candidate for New York State Assembly District 139