Up and Coming in the Empire State: Southern Tier
Southern Tier
Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:34:00
Their constituencies are often spread across many miles, but that has not stopped the next generation of New York State’s elected leaders from making themselves known and prompting intense speculation into their political futures.
The Capitol has identified five of the most promising up-and-comers in each of the state’s seven regions outside of New York City and will profile each in this ongoing series. Ages were not taken into account in the development of these lists. What matters here is potential, which everyone in this group has in abundance.
REGION DE scri ptION:
A largely rural swath stretching from Lake Erie straight across the Pennsylvania border, the Southern Tier has been trying to remake itself economically for over three decades. As industrial businesses fled the region’s major cities of Jamestown, Olean, Corning, Ithaca, Elmira and Binghamton, residents drifted to the southeast and other parts of the state in search of jobs. Anchored by several colleges, including Cornell University, Ithaca College, St. Bonaventure University and Binghamton University, the Southern Tier has been mainly Republican in rural areas, with Democratic pockets in the urban centers. The annual steak roast hosted by State Sen. Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), complete with a line of Libous products from aprons to steak sauce, has become a permanent stop on the circuit for all Republicans seeking statewide office.
Michelle Berry (D)
Former Ithaca Alderwoman
Age: 40
A former television journalist and spokeswoman for two Binghamton mayors, Michelle Berry recently concluded a four-year stint on the Ithaca Common Council. Vowing to return to elective office in the future, Berry stepped away in order to focus on her public relations business, found a non-profit aimed to assisting citizen action in Tompkins County and to have a second child.
Berry had intended to work behind the scenes in government when she was encouraged by her predecessor to seek a council seat. Rising fast on the council, Berry chaired the budget committee in her first two years and served a one-year term as the city’s alternate acting mayor, positions not normally given to rookie council members. Her focus has been on streamlining city government and promoting diversity awareness in Tompkins County.
Outside of the council, Berry has conducted training sessions statewide for other elected officials in the areas of media relations, stress relief and how to handle criticism from the public. Now out of office, Berry is hoping to continue these training sessions for local officials, along with the creation of a new non-profit focused on educating citizens in having their voices heard.
Berry said she will run for office in the future, once she has a second child and gets her non-profit off the ground. While noting she would have no problem returning to council, she has set her sights higher.
“I’d like to promote myself,” she said. “I’d like to run for higher office than the council.”
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“Pedestrian safety, including the creation of a pedestrian education campaign and new traffic safety measures.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“I really want to have a successful launch of the citizen engagement organization I founded.”
What are the top three challenges facing New York State right now?
Lowering property taxes, incentives for first-time home buyers, bringing civility to state government.
Matt Ryan (D)
Mayor of Binghamton
Age: 56
Along time industrial base and city of immigrants, Binghamton entered a downward economic spiral over a generation ago as factories closed and IBM moved its substantial presence out of the area. Matt Ryan, the long time public defender elected mayor in 2005, believes progressive government can be the solution to the city’s woes.
Ryan has been focused on a series of community forums aimed at increasing citizen participation in local government. A series of town hall meetings in each neighborhood, has led to the creation of neighborhood assemblies. Similar to New York City’s community boards, the assemblies allow for residents to develop plans to address neighborhood issues.
To address economic development, Ryan has started working on infrastructure issues, noting that his city has started having parking problems, including panels falling off of a downtown parking deck. He is calling on the state to address the upgrading of storm sewers, roads, bridges and parking decks in order to provide a base for new businesses.
One of the more prominent officials in the eastern half of the Southern Tier, the mayor of Binghamton is routinely mentioned as a candidate for higher office. One of Ryan’s predecessors, John Burns, was the leader of the state Democratic Party during the Rockefeller era, and another, Democrat Juanita Crabb, lost to Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-Ulster), when Hinchey was first elected in 1992.
Limited to two terms, Ryan said he has not given any thought to a higher office or to what he plans to do after his stint in City Hall is done.
“It’s flattering people think of me for higher office,” he said. “We have a good congressman here. But who knows what will come down the road? My goal for the end of two terms is to have a progressive government in place to solve problems.”
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“The implementation of our civic engagement program and its leading to a network of neighborhood assemblies.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
Put GPS systems in all public works vehicles, upgrade information technology in city government, enhance e-services to create a virtual City Hall and lead the region on shared services and government consolidation.
What are the top challenges facing New York State right now?
Restoring state aid to pre-1990 levels, upstate economic development, finish the first three rounds of the Restore New York program and continue it for future years.
Greg Edwards (R)
Chautauqua County Executive
Age: 47
In 2005, Republican Greg Edwards, an attorney making his first race, unseated the incumbent Chautauqua county executive, a race in which Edwards recruited campaign staff out of the state GOP’s Albany headquarters. Edwards has extended his political reach, managing to capture control of the county legislature last year, an unexpected feat in a county centered around largely Democratic Jamestown.
Edwards has brought a business approach to government, including the creation of a three-term plan to change county government. His plan for a first term includes cutting the county budget and the promotion of shared services and management efficiency in government. In a second term, Edwards plans on addressing smart growth issues to bring in new businesses to the county. For a third term, he would like to make Chautauqua County a role model for other counties in the state for good government practices. Outside of his three-term model, Edwards, like most upstate politicians, has made economic development a priority.
With his back-to-back political successes, Edwards’ name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for higher office in the future. Some possibilities have included a statewide run or a challenge to Rep. Brian Higgins (D-Erie). Edwards said he would not consider a bid for higher office until he can implement his three-term agenda for the county, which would take him through the end of 2017.
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“It is making decisions based on business priorities and getting return for our investment.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“As far as government goes, there are some issues we need to get our hands around, including applying smart growth to Chautauqua County and having development that keeps the quality of life in our county.”
What are the top challenges facing New York State right now?
Fiscal issues.
Catharine Young (R)
State Senator
Age: 48
The deaths of two sitting state senators helped bring Catharine Young from the Cattaraugus County Legislature to the State Senate in just over six years. A former journalist in Olean, Young had been a county legislator when State Sen. Jess Present (R) died in the fall of 1998, paving the way for then-Assembly Member Pat McGee (R) to move to the Senate, and Young to take McGee’s place in the lower house. After a fast rise in the minority caucus, Young was the logical successor when McGee passed away early in 2005.
Young’s work has been in the mold of previous legislators from her region, including Present, McGee and former Rep. Amo Houghton (R-Corning). This includes being vocal in trying to focus attention on this largely rural swath that is almost as close to Chicago as Manhattan, and identifies more with the Midwest then the Northeast. Succeeding McGee as chair of the Senate agriculture committee, Young has focused the majority of her attention on agriculture and rural issues.
Given her quick rise in the western Southern Tier and status as the youngest female Republican senator, Young has often been mentioned for higher office. Her name has circulated as an eventual successor to Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-Steuben) or as a possible contender for statewide office in the future. Young said her focus is on her district and in retaining the majority for Senate Republicans.
“There are a lot of goals I want to accomplish in the Senate,” she said.
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“I’m working very hard to bring attention and resources to my district. The Senate majority has been fantastic. One of our huge successes this year has been to help struggling dairy farmers.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“I think that the upstate economy should be a priority for everyone in state government. There is a package of capital funds we would like to see passed in the Senate. It would help the upstate economy.”
What are the top three challenges facing New York State right now?
Tax relief, job growth, health care access.
Joseph Brennan (R)
Chemung County Legislator
Age: 23
Throughout the Elmira region, thousands of students leave to attend college and never return. Instead, they look for jobs elsewhere in the country, leaving behind their families and familiar surroundings. That then 22-year-old Joseph Brennan returned to the Elmira suburb of Horseheads following his graduation from Ithaca College last year was surprising. That he took on the Republican Party leadership to seek a seat in the Chemung County Legislature seat was astonishing.
Brennan sought the seat in order to address economic issues. Since taking office, he has focused on trying to develop plans to bring jobs to the Elmira area and to make housing more affordable for younger residents. He is spending much of his time addressing issues relating to an expansion of the main runway at Elmira Airport. The current design, he said, will create a larger flood plain in parts of his district.
Brennan has been involved in politics and conservative causes since his days as an Ithaca undergraduate. While a college student, he organized a plan to defeat a tax referendum in Tompkins County. Starting 12 days before the election, Brennan put together a coalition of students to advance his point of view with regards to the proposal, which would have raised local property taxes. Despite the lack of major fundraising or time to organize, Brennan and his group were able to help defeat the referendum by a two-to-one margin.
Brennan downplayed his interest in higher office, noting that he just completed the first year of a four-year term. While saying that he is focused on his agenda for the county, he hinted at a future run if certain offices were to open up.
“It’s too early to say,” he said. “I never want to be president, that’s over my head.”
He is aware, however, of how he might want his career to progress.
“I am content with the county legislature for now. The next rung is Assembly, but Tom O’Hara’s doing a great job,” he said. “I would not rule it out in the future.”
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“I am very proud that we had a resolution on the floor of the Legislature to cut down on smoking in county-owned parks. Some legislators did not think it went far enough and wanted to table it. I stood up and said, we can amend it later but needed to do something now. I was able to bring it back up and get a partial ban on smoking in county parks.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“The commissioning of a report regarding youth leaving the Southern Tier and the development of a strategy on how county government can address this. [And] the creation of a county Homestead Act to provide money to help first-time homebuyers, who grew up in Chemung County, with the down payment on a house.”
What are the top challenges facing New York State right now?
Lower state taxes to help with economic development; look for ways to decrease smoking, including increasing state tobacco taxes, noting that this could lower property taxes, since many of the Medicaid costs address medical issues relating to smoking.
The Capitol has identified five of the most promising up-and-comers in each of the state’s seven regions outside of New York City and will profile each in this ongoing series. Ages were not taken into account in the development of these lists. What matters here is potential, which everyone in this group has in abundance.
REGION DE scri ptION:
A largely rural swath stretching from Lake Erie straight across the Pennsylvania border, the Southern Tier has been trying to remake itself economically for over three decades. As industrial businesses fled the region’s major cities of Jamestown, Olean, Corning, Ithaca, Elmira and Binghamton, residents drifted to the southeast and other parts of the state in search of jobs. Anchored by several colleges, including Cornell University, Ithaca College, St. Bonaventure University and Binghamton University, the Southern Tier has been mainly Republican in rural areas, with Democratic pockets in the urban centers. The annual steak roast hosted by State Sen. Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), complete with a line of Libous products from aprons to steak sauce, has become a permanent stop on the circuit for all Republicans seeking statewide office.
Michelle Berry (D)Former Ithaca Alderwoman
Age: 40
A former television journalist and spokeswoman for two Binghamton mayors, Michelle Berry recently concluded a four-year stint on the Ithaca Common Council. Vowing to return to elective office in the future, Berry stepped away in order to focus on her public relations business, found a non-profit aimed to assisting citizen action in Tompkins County and to have a second child.
Berry had intended to work behind the scenes in government when she was encouraged by her predecessor to seek a council seat. Rising fast on the council, Berry chaired the budget committee in her first two years and served a one-year term as the city’s alternate acting mayor, positions not normally given to rookie council members. Her focus has been on streamlining city government and promoting diversity awareness in Tompkins County.
Outside of the council, Berry has conducted training sessions statewide for other elected officials in the areas of media relations, stress relief and how to handle criticism from the public. Now out of office, Berry is hoping to continue these training sessions for local officials, along with the creation of a new non-profit focused on educating citizens in having their voices heard.
Berry said she will run for office in the future, once she has a second child and gets her non-profit off the ground. While noting she would have no problem returning to council, she has set her sights higher.
“I’d like to promote myself,” she said. “I’d like to run for higher office than the council.”
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“Pedestrian safety, including the creation of a pedestrian education campaign and new traffic safety measures.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“I really want to have a successful launch of the citizen engagement organization I founded.”
What are the top three challenges facing New York State right now?
Lowering property taxes, incentives for first-time home buyers, bringing civility to state government.
Matt Ryan (D)Mayor of Binghamton
Age: 56
Along time industrial base and city of immigrants, Binghamton entered a downward economic spiral over a generation ago as factories closed and IBM moved its substantial presence out of the area. Matt Ryan, the long time public defender elected mayor in 2005, believes progressive government can be the solution to the city’s woes.
Ryan has been focused on a series of community forums aimed at increasing citizen participation in local government. A series of town hall meetings in each neighborhood, has led to the creation of neighborhood assemblies. Similar to New York City’s community boards, the assemblies allow for residents to develop plans to address neighborhood issues.
To address economic development, Ryan has started working on infrastructure issues, noting that his city has started having parking problems, including panels falling off of a downtown parking deck. He is calling on the state to address the upgrading of storm sewers, roads, bridges and parking decks in order to provide a base for new businesses.
One of the more prominent officials in the eastern half of the Southern Tier, the mayor of Binghamton is routinely mentioned as a candidate for higher office. One of Ryan’s predecessors, John Burns, was the leader of the state Democratic Party during the Rockefeller era, and another, Democrat Juanita Crabb, lost to Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-Ulster), when Hinchey was first elected in 1992.
Limited to two terms, Ryan said he has not given any thought to a higher office or to what he plans to do after his stint in City Hall is done.
“It’s flattering people think of me for higher office,” he said. “We have a good congressman here. But who knows what will come down the road? My goal for the end of two terms is to have a progressive government in place to solve problems.”
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“The implementation of our civic engagement program and its leading to a network of neighborhood assemblies.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
Put GPS systems in all public works vehicles, upgrade information technology in city government, enhance e-services to create a virtual City Hall and lead the region on shared services and government consolidation.
What are the top challenges facing New York State right now?
Restoring state aid to pre-1990 levels, upstate economic development, finish the first three rounds of the Restore New York program and continue it for future years.
Greg Edwards (R)Chautauqua County Executive
Age: 47
In 2005, Republican Greg Edwards, an attorney making his first race, unseated the incumbent Chautauqua county executive, a race in which Edwards recruited campaign staff out of the state GOP’s Albany headquarters. Edwards has extended his political reach, managing to capture control of the county legislature last year, an unexpected feat in a county centered around largely Democratic Jamestown.
Edwards has brought a business approach to government, including the creation of a three-term plan to change county government. His plan for a first term includes cutting the county budget and the promotion of shared services and management efficiency in government. In a second term, Edwards plans on addressing smart growth issues to bring in new businesses to the county. For a third term, he would like to make Chautauqua County a role model for other counties in the state for good government practices. Outside of his three-term model, Edwards, like most upstate politicians, has made economic development a priority.
With his back-to-back political successes, Edwards’ name has been mentioned as a possible candidate for higher office in the future. Some possibilities have included a statewide run or a challenge to Rep. Brian Higgins (D-Erie). Edwards said he would not consider a bid for higher office until he can implement his three-term agenda for the county, which would take him through the end of 2017.
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“It is making decisions based on business priorities and getting return for our investment.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“As far as government goes, there are some issues we need to get our hands around, including applying smart growth to Chautauqua County and having development that keeps the quality of life in our county.”
What are the top challenges facing New York State right now?
Fiscal issues.
Catharine Young (R)State Senator
Age: 48
The deaths of two sitting state senators helped bring Catharine Young from the Cattaraugus County Legislature to the State Senate in just over six years. A former journalist in Olean, Young had been a county legislator when State Sen. Jess Present (R) died in the fall of 1998, paving the way for then-Assembly Member Pat McGee (R) to move to the Senate, and Young to take McGee’s place in the lower house. After a fast rise in the minority caucus, Young was the logical successor when McGee passed away early in 2005.
Young’s work has been in the mold of previous legislators from her region, including Present, McGee and former Rep. Amo Houghton (R-Corning). This includes being vocal in trying to focus attention on this largely rural swath that is almost as close to Chicago as Manhattan, and identifies more with the Midwest then the Northeast. Succeeding McGee as chair of the Senate agriculture committee, Young has focused the majority of her attention on agriculture and rural issues.
Given her quick rise in the western Southern Tier and status as the youngest female Republican senator, Young has often been mentioned for higher office. Her name has circulated as an eventual successor to Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-Steuben) or as a possible contender for statewide office in the future. Young said her focus is on her district and in retaining the majority for Senate Republicans.
“There are a lot of goals I want to accomplish in the Senate,” she said.
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“I’m working very hard to bring attention and resources to my district. The Senate majority has been fantastic. One of our huge successes this year has been to help struggling dairy farmers.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“I think that the upstate economy should be a priority for everyone in state government. There is a package of capital funds we would like to see passed in the Senate. It would help the upstate economy.”
What are the top three challenges facing New York State right now?
Tax relief, job growth, health care access.
Joseph Brennan (R)Chemung County Legislator
Age: 23
Throughout the Elmira region, thousands of students leave to attend college and never return. Instead, they look for jobs elsewhere in the country, leaving behind their families and familiar surroundings. That then 22-year-old Joseph Brennan returned to the Elmira suburb of Horseheads following his graduation from Ithaca College last year was surprising. That he took on the Republican Party leadership to seek a seat in the Chemung County Legislature seat was astonishing.
Brennan sought the seat in order to address economic issues. Since taking office, he has focused on trying to develop plans to bring jobs to the Elmira area and to make housing more affordable for younger residents. He is spending much of his time addressing issues relating to an expansion of the main runway at Elmira Airport. The current design, he said, will create a larger flood plain in parts of his district.
Brennan has been involved in politics and conservative causes since his days as an Ithaca undergraduate. While a college student, he organized a plan to defeat a tax referendum in Tompkins County. Starting 12 days before the election, Brennan put together a coalition of students to advance his point of view with regards to the proposal, which would have raised local property taxes. Despite the lack of major fundraising or time to organize, Brennan and his group were able to help defeat the referendum by a two-to-one margin.
Brennan downplayed his interest in higher office, noting that he just completed the first year of a four-year term. While saying that he is focused on his agenda for the county, he hinted at a future run if certain offices were to open up.
“It’s too early to say,” he said. “I never want to be president, that’s over my head.”
He is aware, however, of how he might want his career to progress.
“I am content with the county legislature for now. The next rung is Assembly, but Tom O’Hara’s doing a great job,” he said. “I would not rule it out in the future.”
What is your biggest accomplishment in office so far?
“I am very proud that we had a resolution on the floor of the Legislature to cut down on smoking in county-owned parks. Some legislators did not think it went far enough and wanted to table it. I stood up and said, we can amend it later but needed to do something now. I was able to bring it back up and get a partial ban on smoking in county parks.”
What do you want to accomplish in the next two years, governmentally and politically?
“The commissioning of a report regarding youth leaving the Southern Tier and the development of a strategy on how county government can address this. [And] the creation of a county Homestead Act to provide money to help first-time homebuyers, who grew up in Chemung County, with the down payment on a house.”
What are the top challenges facing New York State right now?
Lower state taxes to help with economic development; look for ways to decrease smoking, including increasing state tobacco taxes, noting that this could lower property taxes, since many of the Medicaid costs address medical issues relating to smoking.
