Infrastructure Improvements

New York State’s roads, bridges and culverts are in critical condition. Much of our state’s infrastructure is old and in a desperate state of disrepair. For example, a 2017 report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli estimated that bridges owned by our counties, towns and villages need over $27 Billion in repairs. And, you know how bad many of our roads are.

It is important that we increase state funding for programs such as CHIPS, BRIDGE-NY and PAVE-NY. This will allow our local highway departments to make much-needed repairs.

I will partner with the “Local Roads Matter” coalition and vote for increased state infrastructure funding. We need safe and reliable roads and bridges. This is a necessity, not an option.

Economic Relief

A 2018 State Comptroller’s report shows that Albany will spend $18 Billion more than it will receive by 2022. This is unsustainable and immoral. We're saddling New Yorkers who haven't even been born yet with astronomical debt. The increased taxation, regulations and lack of mandate relief are only serving to strangle family farms, small businesses and local governments alike. But, it won't stop if we keep sending the same people to Albany simply to collect another taxpayer-funded paycheck. We need a voice in Albany, not an echo. I will raise this region’s voice against Albany’s red tape. 

School Safety

Recently, we have seen a number of incidents involving school shootings. There are no words to express our sadness and grief over the horrific deaths, physical injuries and emotional trauma.

We may disagree on the root cause of the violence, but we can all agree that our children must be safe in their schools.

I join with the New York State Sheriff’s Association (NYSSA) and many of our state representatives in calling for the state to fund an armed and specially-trained resource officer in every school. It is estimated that the cost would be approximately that of adding another teacher to the school.

Some schools already have resource officers that are paid for by the school districts or local governments, but many others, due to limited funding, do not. We have an obligation to ensure that ALL of our students are as safe as possible in their schools.

Term Limits

Our Founding Fathers intended for a citizen legislature where real people served the public for a limited amount of time before returning to their farms or other business interests. I support term limits for all state offices—including my own. I pledge to serve no more than three, two-year terms. We don’t need politicians collecting padded pensions, but people that seek the state’s best interests.

Second Amendment Rights

I am an avid outdoor enthusiast. In particular, I shoot skeet and sporting clays.  I’m  a member of Mt. Morris Sportsmen’s Club, the Conesus Lake Sportsmen’s Club, Rochester-Brooks Sportsmen’s Club, S.C.O.P.E. and the NRA. Routinely, I hear the concerns of responsible gun owners and pledge to be a strong advocate for Second Amendment Rights. I support efforts to repeal the SAFE Act and the new gun control laws passed this year, but am a realist. For the full repeal of the SAFE Act, New York is going to need a new governor and to change a lot of legislative seats as well.

Sanctity of Human Life

I am pro-life. However, I do believe that in cases of rape, incest or where the life of the mother is at stake, that a woman should be allowed to terminate a pregnancy. When I was an Assistant District Attorney, I prosecuted a number of cases of rape. I saw the physical trauma and psychological anguish women went through. I believe there are times when a woman (hopefully in consultation with her doctor and loved ones) should have an option. That said, I do not support the use of taxpayer dollars to finance abortions and I voted against Gov. Cuomo’s Abortion Expansion Act.

This is a position I have reached over time and it has not come easy for me.  Twenty or thirty years ago, I felt differently. But, as I get older, I have learned to appreciate life more and learned more about this issue. I have dear friends that would not be here today if their teenage mothers had chosen abortion. Some of them are now parents themselves. Also, medical advances, like ultrasounds technology, have shown us that a baby in the womb is much more developed than people thought just a few years ago.