2 Democratic candidates for Congress will be at June 4 forum in Albion
Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum will take questions at Hoag Library
Diana Kastenbaum, left, and Alissa Ellman will face each other in a Democratic Party Primary on June 23 with the winner to go against Claudia Tenney in the general election.
ALBION – Two candidates running for Congress will be at a 7 p.m. forum on June 4 at Hoag Library.
Alissa Ellman and Diana Kastenbaum will be at the forum hosted by the Orleans County Democratic Committee.
The two are in a primary where early voting starts on June 13 with the primary ending June 23. The winner will face Claudia Tenney in the general election for the 24th Congressional District which stretches from Lake Ontario in Niagara County through the Genesee Valley, encompasses the Finger Lakes region, and extends east to the St. Lawrence Seaway.
“While only registered Democrats can vote in the Primary Election for these candidates, this forum is a chance for our whole community, however affiliated, to hear directly from folks who will be running against Claudia Tenney in November,” said Beth Wood, secretary of the Orleans County Democratic Committee. “Democracy depends upon well informed citizens who learn, register to vote, and then get to the polls to be sure their own choice is counted.”
Diana Kastenbaum was born and raised in Batavia, and was owner and CEO of a tool-and-die casting company, Pinnacle Manufacturing Company. She previously ran for Congress in 2016 when Batavia was in the 27th Congressional District.
She was married to late actor and comedian Hiram Kasten for 38 years until his passing in 2024. She is the mother of a daughter Millicent who serves as an attorney in public service. She serves as a trustee on the Genesee Community College. She also was on the board for the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council and the Landmark Society of Genesee County.
Alissa Ellman is a disabled Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. She was working in Veterans affairs at the Buffalo VA, helping veterans secure their benefits. But her job was suddenly eliminated over a year ago by Elon Musk and DOGE. That prompted her to run for Congress. She grew up in Houghton in Allegany County.
Ellman in 2018 was diagnosed with a type of adrenal cancer associated with toxic burn pit exposure during her time in Afghanistan.
Kastenbaum and Ellman also will have a debate on June 9 at 7 p.m. at Genesee Community College in Batavia. That debate will be moderated by the League of Women Voters of Rochester.
