letters to the editor/opinion

Hanlon has long shown dedication and expertise in many roles of public service

Posted 28 October 2020 at 8:11 am

Editor:

As another major election is drawing near, I have come to reflect upon the division generated among us. I often wonder why each election year creates an environment where we feel individually attacked and divided from family and friends due to differing viewpoints.

We teach children in schools to be respectful, compassionate and receptive to their peers because we believe these are the traits that will make them successful. We believe in practicing what you preach and leading by example; however, we have created a society that deems it acceptable to discredit another individual’s accomplishments in order to achieve their goals.

I have now witnessed this first hand as my mother, Nadine Hanlon, has maintained a campaign with integrity and respect for her opponent while they work to discredit her experience and all the hours she has put forth to serve her community. It saddens me to watch these actions take place, and I refuse to stay silent while others attack the experience and hard-working character of my mother. I am here to tell you why I believe Nadine Hanlon is highly qualified for the Orleans County Clerk’s position and to provide you with a little experiential history.

Before starting a family, my mother worked as a Legal Assistant for the Department of Social Services for 5 years upon graduating from the National Paralegal Academy. She then used her legal skills working in the Real Estate Owned Department as a Deficiency Judgement Analyst at Dime/Washington Mutual. She worked with large law firms across New York State to recover large sums of money during bank foreclosures and recovery actions.

My mother comes from a history of public service, which has allowed her to see firsthand the impact that effective leadership has on a community. My grandfather, Michael Paduchak, served 32 years as Kendall Town Supervisor, 40 years on the Orleans County Community Action Board and over 50 years as a volunteer at the Kendall Fire Department. He inspired my mother to donate much of her time back to the same community and run for public office.

It was 23 years ago, while she was 9 months pregnant with me, when she ran for her first public office position as Kendall Town Clerk. She won just days after giving birth to me. For the 9 years that she served as Kendall Town Clerk, she was also the Registrar of Vital Records, Records Management Officer, and Tax Collector, successfully maintaining accurate records before submitting them to local officials.

From there she went on to become the Clerk of the Legislature, a position which she has held for the past 14 years, and during which she has also served as treasurer for 12 years on the New York State Association of Clerks of County Legislative Boards. She has created positive working relationships with all the County Department Heads and managerial employees to be able to effectively complete assignments as a team.

She also works diligently to oversee various tasks to ensure that everything adheres to the administrative operations and that projects are completed within strict deadlines. Through this she has been able to fulfill not only the expectations of the community that she serves, but also the local officials that continue to advocate for our community at state and federal levels.

While her work experience is extensive, the multiple boards and organizations that she has donated her free time to outside of the office speak volumes as well. I am proud of all her accomplishments and the work ethic that she demonstrates on a daily basis as she continues to serve our community in all ways possible. Although she offers a different perspective and background, she has the leadership skills needed to make operations run efficiently within the Office of the Orleans County Clerk. She has proven her commitment to the residents of Orleans County and will continue to do so with the utmost respect if you vote for her to be the Orleans County Clerk.

Marisa Hanlon

Kendall

“Proud Daughter of Nadine P. Hanlon”

Shelby GOP Committee believes Smith, Wilkins best candidates for town positions

Posted 28 October 2020 at 7:50 am

Editor:

As a committee, candidates for the open positions of Town of Shelby Supervisor and Town Councilman were carefully interviewed in person. At that time each candidate had the opportunity to share their visions for the respective position in the Town.

Jeff Smith, interim Supervisor, was the sole candidate for Town Supervisor.

There were two candidates for the position of Councilman: Ryan Wilkins and Craig Stalker.  While both candidates had positive points, one stood out as a stronger candidate to fill the seat left vacant when Jeff Smith was appointed town supervisor.

The Town of Shelby Republican Committee most favorably endorsed Jeff and Ryan for these positions. We ask you to support Jeff Smith for Town Supervisor and Ryan Wilkins for Town Councilman.

Please exercise your right to vote for these candidates.

Respectfully,

Patricia Eick, Chairperson

Town of Shelby Republican Committee

McMurray would be strong advocate for region, putting country over party

Posted 27 October 2020 at 6:41 pm

Editor:

Responding to Paul Lauricella, Orleans County Conservative Party Chairman, whose letter was posted on Oct. 20 in the Orleans Hub.

Mr. Lauricella, you are mistaken. Nate McMurray is clearly the best choice for NY 27 Congress. “Lapdog,” your term, not mine, more appropriately applies to Chris Jacobs who, with a platform to support Trump, is blindly loyal.

Jacobs voted party line on 16 of 19 key votes. Jacobs voted against the post office, pleasing Donald Trump. On the way home, Jacobs learned that all other 26 NYS Republicans supported the post office. Jacobs excuse? He was “distracted”; it was a “mistake.” Lower than lapdog behavior, Jacobs tried to play both sides. Are you OK being lied to?

Nate McMurray loves this country.

Social Security helped his mom raise seven children when her husband died young. She worked 3 jobs and young McMurray was often left unsupervised. This country offered McMurray an opportunity to pull himself up and learn to thrive. He earned achievements: Eagle Scout, community college, scholarships, law school. Fulbright scholar.

McMurray is not an insider, isn’t bought off, refuses corporate money, loves our country, our flag and will fight for Social Security, Medicare and is endorsed by 26 labor unions. He does not seek to “oversee the destruction of this country with great enthusiasm,” as you carelessly and falsely claim.

McMurray will fight for healthcare for all. He said, “900,000 people applied for unemployment last week. Eight-million people since May have fallen into poverty in this country, and NY-27 has the worst job market in the country even before the pandemic. So many people either had health insurance linked to their employment. And now they’ve lost their employment, and have no other option, and at the same time, the President is attacking the health care they have. So making sure everyone has healthcare is my priority. I am open to looking at the options.”

Mr. Lauricella, you ask readers to vote party over country and “save the seat” by voting for Chris Jacobs.

While a seat was saved for Chris Collins, now serving time, we were without representation. Aren’t we worth more? We deserve someone who will work for us.

Twice, more than anywhere else in the country Republicans, Independents, and Conservatives have crossed over to vote for McMurray because he is moderate, not leftist, as you claim. McMurray successfully led a bipartisan town board in Grand Island. Unlike Jacobs, McMurray is not a career politician, speaks his mind, is sincere, and has spent thousands of hours visiting with people in NY-27.

People don’t know Jacobs, who takes an easy road, relying on party allegiance.

McMurray said, “I believe you need to represent, truly represent, people that you’re fighting for that you want to help lead in Washington. So, I am someone who will go and listen to them, and Chris, I don’t think he’s ever been to most of these towns.”

If you love America, vote country over party so that we may heal and thrive again.

Thank you,

Jeanne Crane

Carlton

President Trump has country on right track for economic prosperity

Posted 27 October 2020 at 9:15 am

Editor:

It is very disheartening and disappointing to read  letters from individuals, some previously considered to be very respectable and intelligent, who now appear to be so badly deceived and denying the truth of facts readily available to anyone seeking the actual truth of the matters we are facing in the upcoming  election.

I find myself agreeing with many of the tenets espoused by the Republican who has disavowed President Trump, but only on principle: stop watching and formulating an opinion from mainstream media (fake news), rejecting political labels, having an open mind, seeking out the facts, don’t blindly adopt the opinions of others, expose media manipulation, etc.

Yet I still must ask myself, “Where on earth did this writer conclude that President Trump hates the military and rejects family values?” Yes, the President despises what “government institutions” have become: corrupt, treasonous, untrustworthy, self-serving, haters of freedom and all things good and patriotic.

This has been called “the swamp” or “deep state.” These parts of our government have been working to destroy American values and freedoms and need to be exposed and brought down. As a  political outsider, the President has brought America to the greatest level of economic prosperity the world has ever experienced.

If the virus had not been released from China, our economy would be at a level never seen before in history. Despite the pandemic setback, President Trump has brought our economy back again and it is now only being constrained by leftist socialist state governors and mayors who want the economy destroyed in order to embarrass the President.

What sources has this opinion writer used to conclude Biden is not a socialist? Listen to his own words, confusing though they are, as he describes his “plans for America.” If you want actual facts and truth, go to the “Democrat Party 2020 Agenda” which Biden and Bernie Sanders both signed and agreed to.

Take the effort to find the truth, as my wife and I did recently. It is long, 110 pages, and will take you 90 minutes to read in its entirety. We barely could sleep that night after reading it. If Biden is such a moderate, then why has he picked one of the most radical socialist advocates as his running mate, who most certainly will take over as President once Biden steps aside?

The Bible says “My people (God speaking) are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Those who sincerely seek the truth will find it. Those who refuse to seek the truth will remain ignorant and be happy to do so. As for me and my family, we want the real truth.

Wayne Lemcke

Waterport

Write-in candidate states reasons for wanting to serve on Shelby Town Board

Posted 26 October 2020 at 9:14 pm

Editor:

I was born and raised in the town of Shelby and knowing the values of the people of Shelby, I have decided I would like to get involved and make a difference in our wonderful town.

I have been a registered Republican since I was old enough to vote.

I am residing here with my wife and 4 children and feel this is the perfect place to raise a family or grow a business with many opportunities.

Politics run in my blood as my father, Dale, served for many years as town of Shelby Councilperson until his untimely death in 2017.

I spent 2 1/2 years on the Republican Committee where I was able to demonstrate my capability building strong working relationships with fellow elected officials.

I pride myself in my ability to exercise clear communication skills and being a collaborative team member. I am a quick learner that has attention to detail and an excellent multi-tasker.

I am also dedicated, loyal and honest.

I would be honored to receive your vote and support as a write-in candidate for Town of Shelby Councilperson.

Thank you,

Craig Stalker

Shelby

Do the work in checking facts about candidates before vocalizing an opinion

Posted 26 October 2020 at 4:52 pm

Editor:

Former Judge Punch recently wrote a gracious letter simply asking people to fact check. He did state the conclusion of his careful analysis but did not insist, demand, or argue any facts. (I do that.)

His, Punch’s letter got a nicely written, but curious reply that dismissed his letter as being contrary to fact. It was  sad and off point as the writer repeatedly threw in bogus statements of fact as examples to show Judge Punch was misguided when he encouraged fact checking.

The last time around Donald Trump only had to throw stones at Clinton and Obama. This time he can blame his two years of failures with a Republican Congress, his former cabinet members, two of his attorneys, two of his National Security Advisors, two Chiefs of Staff, the FBI doing its job, jury verdicts, Russian disinformation about Ukraine etc., his FBI director, and any personality who does work for Fox (to name a few). He wants to claim he is a White Knight coming to the rescue.

The writer of that letter was simply overloaded by all these bogus claims and, if he fact checked, he only looked at a few facts. The ones he wanted to believe he simply repeated or else he would have had to admit his own moral compass was upset.

In other words I bet this Trump supporter – like most – has fallen so far down the rabbit hole from traditional moderate or conservative Republican into Trump’s ineffective and populist theatrics that he did not know how to face up to his mistaken reliance on the web of lies that has ensnared him.

Fact checking is time consuming. Here is a link to 8 reputable fact-checking websites. Be sure to really check facts and vote.

Our local businesses and governments needs massive support. Not spending money to test and trace has us headed to economic disaster as we fall behind our economic competitors. Making the same mistakes as President Hoover who limited spending, when spending was actually critical, thus letting the bottom drop out again will ruin all but the investor class who can move money offshore.

P.S. And thank you to both the Republican and Democratic election officials who made my voting here in Orleans easy and effortless. Our vote and peaceful transition has been and, if we are smart, should remain the standard for the free world!

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Hanlon has proven to be effective public servant

Posted 26 October 2020 at 11:01 am

Editor:

I write to support Nadine Hanlon’s election as the next Orleans County Clerk. I have known Nadine since her childhood and believe that her combination of experience and personal attributes uniquely qualify her to help lead Orleans County as our Clerk.

All that know Nadine well appreciate her personal warmth, openness and determination. She is approachable and attentive to others, and a proven problem solver. Those qualities are essential ones to find in a public servant, especially one who so often interacts with the county residents.

A graduate of Leadership Orleans, Nadine has been recognized as a leader by the voters and her peers. She was elected several times as Kendall Town Clerk and as a member of the Kendall School Board. Her fellow school board members recognized her leadership qualities by electing and re-electing her as Board President. She demonstrated her personal resolve and skill as a leader while shepherding the district through important capital projects.

As Clerk to the County Legislature, Nadine has developed a broad understanding of county operations and budgeting, important knowledge for a County Clerk charged with leading a county department. Her personal relationships with other elected county leaders will also serve us well as she interacts with the legislature when facing issues important to operation of the clerk’s office.

While I have known Nadine for many years, I have also had the privilege of serving with her as a member of the Leadership Orleans steering committee, where she has shown exceptional ability to understand and creatively propose solutions to issues that have risen there.

Nadine’s recent victory in the primary demonstrates the broad support she has already earned from Orleans County voters. She has the right personal characteristics and broad set of experiences to help her become an outstanding County Clerk. Please join me in casting a vote for Nadine Hanlon.

Regards,

Charlie Nesbitt

Barre

(Nesbitt is a former member of the State Assembly.)

McMurray would competent and compassionate leader in Congress

Posted 25 October 2020 at 10:44 am

Editor:

I urge a vote for Nate McMurray for Congress. We need a competent, compassionate leader. With a pandemic that has killed more than 215,000 fellow citizens it is time for a leader like Nate McMurray.

The New England Journal of Medicine wrote: “When it comes to the response to the largest public health crisis of our time, our current political leaders have demonstrated that they are dangerously incompetent. We should not abet them and enable the deaths of thousands more Americans by allowing them to keep their jobs.”

Scientific American wrote: “The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people—because he rejects evidence and science.” Our current congressman supports this “dangerously incompetent” rejection of science that has “badly damaged the U.S. and its people.”

We now know, after his votes against the ACA, the Postal Service, and for Asian-American racism, that he is indeed a “partisan extremist” and obsequiously subservient to an individual. Western New York need a voice that will fight for the health and economic interest of Western New York.

Finally, as a combat veteran I find it reprehensible that political leaders have not come to the defense of U.S. soldiers targeted by a foreign government. As a citizen of the United States, I find it anathematic that government leaders forcibly separate children from their parents, and show support for racists.

As a human being I find it abhorrent for our political leaders to mock people with disabilities and brag about assaulting women. We need a competent compassionate leader who will listen to his constituents and to science, support our troops and respect everyone.

Please vote for Nate McMurray.

William Fine

Brockport

Trump brings focus on solving problems without playing politics

Posted 24 October 2020 at 10:02 am

Editor:

I have great respect for Judge Punch and my friends who believe Biden is the best choice for President but I cannot disagree more.

A scandal seems to be brewing over the Hunter Biden laptop and Joe at times has a memory problem. So are we voting for Biden (moderate?) or Harris (ultra liberal) for President?

The judge states that the President has many faults and made bad decisions but cites no examples of those claims. The President is not a politician. He can be abrupt and rude but he wants results not a bunch of phony words and no results.

I know where Trump stands but not where Biden stands on many issues because he changes depending on the audience. The judge does not look at the last four years and the accomplishments this President has had. He did this while fighting the Washington establishment that concocted a phony charge of conspiracy with Russia.

The corruption involved the last administration, the Justice Department, the Democrat Congress, the intelligence agencies and the news media. Three years and millions of dollars and they found no collusion. (Based on FOI documents obtained by Judicial Watch, the Mueller report, not cable news.)

You could call it an attempted coup. Meanwhile the President continued to move the country forward. Make America Great Again has been his promise and rallying cry.

I’m not blind to his faults but I am tired of voting for well spoken politicians who make promises they have no intention of keeping. Trump is the first President in my lifetime that actually does what he says he will do. I agree with his vision for America, not the vision of the Democrat platform which Biden has signed onto.

I will make a list of a few differences between the President and the Biden agenda. The President believes in the Constitution, he believes in law and order, he believes in a strong economy. Some of his accomplishments are nominating good judges, improving trade deals, empowering the black community with school choice, financial support for black colleges, creating opportunity zones, low unemployment for all groups and genders.

He has confronted China, Iran and North Korea, he has strengthened the military, unified countries in the Middle East, improved the VA for vets, attacked the Covid virus and built a wall slowing illegals by 80% and he has cut burdensome regulations and lowered taxes. His agenda going forward is to live in peace, improve all lives and grow the country economy.

After 47 years of government service, Joe Biden put Bernie Sanders (socialist) and AOC (socialist) in charge of the Biden plan for our country (read manifesto that was on Biden’s website). The green new deal, defund the police, no prisons or jails, no border wall, all illegals that come to US can have free healthcare, no school choice, no fracking, pack the Supreme Court, add two States so they control both houses of Congress, raise taxes, little to say about protests that have caused lives, assaults and arson to the tune of two billion dollars, ready to lockdown the country over the virus are policies not good for this country. I should also mention a movement by the left to socialism and Marxism which would end the US as we know it. His campaign was run basically from his cellar. Come on man.

Is Trump the perfect man? No, but my choice is based on their policies not personalities.

This is not a game of football i.e. Buffalo against New England. This is not really the GOP vs Dems. This a serious election that does not have a start over. Biden believes the American idea is over (his commercial) and the President does not.

The president thinks the next four years will be the best yet. I agree.

Ray Watt

Town of Yates

DeFilipps would be a dedicated leader as Murray highway superintendent

Posted 23 October 2020 at 9:42 pm

Editor:

Election Day is upon us again. As a resident of the Town of Murray, I feel obligated to vote for the best candidate for Highway Superintendent.

I have read the social media posts and have seen the signs. “Experience” seems to be the campaign issue in this election. Experience is always important when you elect your public officials.

The ability to lead and inspire your employees is just as important. Over the past 20-plus years I have had the pleasure to witness a true leader, a family man committed to his church, wife, children and his community.

I have had the pleasure to work side by side with James DeFilipps in the fire service. He served as a firefighter EMT and was committed to fellow firefighters. He became a fire truck driver, driving each and every truck. Jimmy took a leadership role with the Explorers program, inspiring teens to become firefighters, many of whom are now in leadership roles in our community.

James saw an opportunity to again serve his community as a police officer. He served the Village of Holley Police Department and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department for over 20 years. He has been a fair and  compassionate deputy.

James was called on to do something no deputy should have to do. He did his duty and saved the lives of his fellow deputies and was able to return home to his wife and kids. James came thru this unimaginable incident and is now even stronger.

Jimmy now serves his community and department as a Marine Patrol Deputy. He teaches new boaters the NYS Boater Safety Course and is responsible for supervising 13 deputies. In addition to being a deputy, James also served as a Village of Holley Board Trustee and a Fire Commissioner, where he was tasked to assist in the writing of grants and worked on yearly budgets.

Jimmy has taken every challenge thrown at him and my hope is that the Town of Murray Highway Superintendent will be his next challenge.

Experience, compassion, integrity and leadership is what the Town of Murray needs on November 3rd. I will be voting for James DeFilipps for Town of Murray Highway Superintendent.

Eric Brett

Holley

Ortt supports Hanlon for Orleans County Clerk

Posted 23 October 2020 at 12:42 pm

Editor:

I fully support Nadine Hanlon for Orleans County Clerk. Nadine has a proven track record of serving the people of Orleans County, from her time as Kendall Town Clerk to her current position for County Legislature Clerk.

During her 25 years go experience, Nadine has provided exceptional administrative guidance at both the local and county level. She has demonstrated a great integrity and resolve in her duties.

Her commitment to the citizens of Orleans County goes beyond the Legislature. Since I was elected to the State Senate, Nadine has been my representative on the board of directors for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee.

She also has shown great leadership skills on the Kendall Board of Education, where she served as president for seven years. Under her watch, she was involved in overseeing two major phases of capital projects, all while ensuring a quality education for the students and watching out for the taxpayers.

Nadine has gone above and beyond in the various positions she has held and will bring those skills she’s demonstrated to the Orleans County Clerk’s Office. When elected, she will continue to serve the people of Orleans County with great dedication and integrity. That is why I am very proud to endorse Nadine Hanlon for County Clerk.

Robert Ortt

North Tonawanda

State Senate Republican Leader

Stealing political signs violates freedom of speech

Posted 23 October 2020 at 8:55 am

Editor:

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the press—freedom of expression. Signs have been an important part of such freedom of expression since The American Revolution. That was the one that first rid us of our subservience to King George.

The Ninth Amendment to our Constitution guarantees other unnamed freedoms. Could Amendment Nine have envisioned the freedom to exhibit signs expressing our political preferences even though these were not specifically mentioned in Amendment One?

Would a handful of our fellow citizens deny our right to express such political choices on our own property?

As an aside, let me point out that the politics so many people profess to hate comes with a republican form of government, like it or not. Alexei Navalny almost died of Novichok poisoning as he pursued such a form of government in Russia.

It has been my privilege to have had a hand in putting up about 70 signs supporting the Biden-Harris ticket in Orleans County. Unfortunately, about 10 of those were replacements for others which the property owners charitably, or naively, judged must have “blown away”.  Well, guess what? The wires do not “blow away”, but in each case they went somewhere.

Whether signs that “blow away” are those supporting the incumbents or the challengers, it is flat out wrong for them to be helped to “blow away” by human hands whose owners do not respect the freedoms protected by the Constitution we profess to value.

This is how it begins, and Putin loves it.

Perplexed,

Gary Kent

Albion

Lammes is best choice on ballot for Murray highway superintendent

Posted 23 October 2020 at 8:09 am

Editor:

Dirk Lammes is on the ballot for the Highway Superintendent position along with a candidate that has no experience in the highway department.

Dirk is the right person for this position. He has years of experience with highway-related projects. He cares about how he performs and completes jobs. He is ready to step into the position for a smooth transition of Highway Superintendent.

If you had the opportunity to interview these two gentlemen running for the highway superintendent position as I have, you would agree Dirk Lammes is the right person for this position. The Republican Committee endorses Dirk Lammes.

The Town of Murray residents need to stop the nepotism within our town now with this election.

Kellie Gregoire

Murray

In weighing candidates, Republican sees Biden as best choice for the country

Posted 21 October 2020 at 8:57 pm

Editor:

I believe that the majority of those reading this are honest, decent and compassionate; that this majority respects family, the military and government institutions and is financially responsible.

Yet, this majority seems to enthusiastically embrace Donald Trump, who is none of those things. The reasons I most often hear for this support are that he is better than the alternative, and that Biden is a socialist. Beyond that, there are those who love Trump no matter what, and seem remarkably forgiving of, or just blind to, his many faults and poor decisions.

That blindness is dangerous. Our democracy depends on our will to keep an open mind and seek out the facts, and then, with eyes and minds wide open, draw our own conclusions based on those facts.

I believe the first step in this task is to stop watching CNN and Fox News. They provide a 24 hour a daily flow of opinions with a few carefully chosen facts sprinkled in. It is degrading to blindly adopt others’ opinions. What relevance does the opinion of some corporate, infotainment pundit have to anyone? It isn’t difficult to find a better source of news than opinion shows.

Next we have to be willing to remove the labels we attach to ourselves (e.g. liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican, etc.) and think things through free of these forms, with honesty and integrity. Then, your opinion, which you worked and struggled for, will be of greater validity and value. Still, never become too comfortable with your opinion. Periodically stop, think and review it all over again. This is the antidote to media manipulation and voter gullibility.

This is a difficult process. In my struggle, I had to think without my own labels. I identified with the traditional values of what used to be conservatism and the Republican Party. I proudly served as a Republican office holder as Orleans County District Attorney and County Judge for 33 years.

It was with great sadness that I came to the realization that I could no longer support the party at the federal level and that I could not vote for Donald Trump. I knew this in 2016, and I hoped that things would change. They did. They got much worse.

I have not given up hope in the party and I am still a Republican. However, looking as best I can at the actual facts, I will never vote for Donald Trump. The choice is clear to me. No credible facts support the conclusion that Joe Biden is a socialist. He will not turn our country into an oppressive politically correct state and he will not spend us to death (any more than Trump has).

He would not be my first choice if Republicans were able to nominate a decent candidate like John Kasich or Jeb Bush. Having nominated a person lacking in  decency, intelligence and character, the Republicans leave me no choice. Thus, I will vote for Joe Biden.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were rejected by their own party because they were a part of the far left. Biden is not. He is a moderate. People may dismiss him as “middle of the road”. Is this really a bad thing? The trend now is to embrace the extreme right or left. This is a terrible departure from what has made our country among the most successful in the world.

Historically, extremist regimes, both right and left, live a short, tortured existence followed by an agonizing death. I have faith that a vigorous democracy will never suffer that fate. Each voter’s intellectual integrity ensures that vigor. Finding that integrity is the most important duty of every American citizen.

James Punch

Medina

Vote Libertarian and break two-party duopoly

Posted 21 October 2020 at 11:50 am

Editor:

If you’re considering voting for Donald Trump or Joe Biden and you live in New York State, you’re wasting your time.

That’s right, to vote for Trump or Biden in New York State is to throw your vote away. Trump has zero chance of winning New York’s electoral votes; New York City will ensure Joe Biden wins this state. Biden does not need your vote. Your vote has literally zero impact on the 2020 Presidential Election!

Or does it? There is another candidate in the race: Libertarian Jo Jorgensen. A vote for Jorgensen is not a wasted vote. A vote for Jorgensen is a vote towards the 5 percent of the popular vote she needs to secure federal recognition of the Libertarian Party as an official party.

A vote for Jorgensen also goes toward the 150,000 votes she needs to preserve the Libertarian Party of New York’s official status and ballot access. The ballot access threshold has been sharply increased this year, endangering the ballot access of third parties.

Active third parties force the Democrats and Republicans to be better parties. The Libertarian Party is America’s largest and strongest third party. It is the best-poised of all third-parties to break through the two-party duopoly establishment and emerge as America’s next major party.

Whether you are a Democrat or a Republican, you probably believe your party has room for improvement. The Libertarian Party can help your party improve! A Libertarian Party of New York with ballot access can continue to help your local party become a better party, one that aligns more with your beliefs and your values.

Make your vote count this election. Force your party to be better.

Vote for Libertarian Jo Jorgensen.

Chase Tkach

Carlton

Chairperson of the Libertarian Party of Orleans County