LIBERTY, NY — The Town of Liberty Republican Committee and the Town of Bethel Democratic Committee both held meet-the-candidate events to encourage voters to come out and vote in the upcoming midterm elections.

This year’s election sees several high-profile races up and down the ballot, as spots from town supervisor all the way up to congressional representatives are up for election. Several of these races, including for congressman and state senator, are battleground races.  Democrats are trying to flip Congress and increase their majority in the State Senate; conversely, Republicans want to grow their majority in Congress and flip the State Senate. These contested races have led to local parties working the vote and whipping up support for their candidates. 

A popular way of doing that? Meet the candidate events. The River Reporter attended both Liberty’s and Bethel’s events, held on back-to-back nights, to meet and greet the candidates and see how the local parties are reacting to the national pressure.

Talking with Tague

State Senate candidate Assembly Member Chris Tague (R,C-102) speaks at a meet the candidates fundraiser hosted by the Town of Liberty Republican Committee.

Town of Liberty Republicans hosted assembly member and state senate candidate Chris Tague (R,C-102). The event, held in Ferndale, was a who’s who of Republican and Conservative politics in Sullivan County, with both Sullivan County Republican Party chair Rob Doherty and Sullivan County Conservative Party chair Bill Chellis in attendance. State Sen. Peter Oberacker (R,C-51) was supposed to attend, but did not due to recovering from an injury which required surgery. 

Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff introduced Tague. Schiff started off by thanking everyone for their support and coming out to support the party.

“For all of our candidates, it’s an uphill battle. It always is in New York State,” Schiff said. “This is the most important election maybe ever. But it seems like every one that comes along as time goes on is the most important election ever, and it just seems to be getting more and more critical.”

Schiff then said that there was a lack of sanity in government. He then railed against the current state of education and public safety, and encouraged everyone to vote for Republican candidates.

“Between public safety, our schools [and] how our government is run, the decisions that are being made by our government [are such] that I think most average people would look at [them] and shake their head,” Schiff said. “This election is probably the most important… in our lifetime. And I hope maybe the next one won’t be. Maybe we can make some headway, but the next one might even be more important. But we have to keep fighting the fight.”

Tague then took the floor, thanking everyone for attending and for the Republican party for having him. Tague encouraged attendees to vote Republican up and down the ballot. He said regarding Democrats, who currently hold the governor’s mansion, a vast majority in the senate and a supermajority in the state assembly, are putting forth bad policy and leading New York astray. “There is no common sense in Albany.”

“We got a lot of work to do, and I’m going to make it simple for you. If you care about a more affordable New York, if you care about the safety and security of your neighborhoods and your fellow men and women, and if you care about having somebody in Albany that’s got your back that actually has common sense, then you need to get out and vote,” Tague said.

Tague said that the only way to break through to Albany and to the Democrats is at the ballot box.

“We need people to get out and vote. The only way we’re going to be able to send a message to them that enough is enough, and that their crazy ideas are killing our country is by showing up to vote,” Tague said. “When we surprise them at the polls, then they’re finally going to realize that they’ve been sending this state down a spiral hole of junk, and that’s what we need to do. So I’m counting on all of you to join me now until election day. Get a hold of your friends, your neighbors, your family members, even your enemies that will listen to you. Get them out to vote.”

Fun with Frazier

Senate candidate Michele Frazier speaks at a meet the candidates event hosted by Town of Bethel Democratic committee

Town of Bethel Democrats hosted Democrats up and down the ballot, including Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay (D-100), Bethel Town Supervisor Daniel Sturm and candidate for Bethel tax collector Julie Rozar. Moreen Lerner, who organized the event, emphasized that the night was meant for networking and fun.

“Tonight is obviously a meet and greet, but the intent is really to have fun,” Lerner said. “To mingle with everybody.”

Senate candidate Michele Frazier was in attendance and was one of the honored guests. Frazier thanked everyone for showing up, and said that even though Election Day is coming up, the work that’s happening can’t slow down.

“We are in this last stretch… And the thing I’m telling everybody: If you’re talking to people, talk to everyone you know and a few people you don’t. Make sure that you’re getting to the polls.”

Frazier emphasized her platform of “health care, housing and a fair share.” She mentioned certain health care services withdrawing from the county, and said she would support universal health care in the senate. She also commended Kay (who called herself a “housing matchmaker”) for bringing workforce housing into the county by hosting roundtable discussions with employers and developers. Frazier said that if elected, she would be an outspoken partner of Kay in the senate and work to bring money back into the county.

On getting a fair share for the county, Frazier highlighted how Sullivan County gets left behind in state conversations. She said that if elected to Albany, she would be Sullivan County and the rest of her district’s biggest advocate and make sure that that doesn’t happen again.

“We really get shafted in our rural communities. We get left behind, forgotten. I think Sullivan County knows that more than any other county,” Frazier said. “Sullivan County somehow just keeps getting left behind, and we need loud, loud voices up there for Sullivan County to make sure that our billionaires, our corporations, aren’t living their best life on our backs, and that we are getting the services we need for our schools, our roads.”

Frazier also emphasized the importance of everyone doing their part. Frazier mentioned the idea that this election will be a “blue wave” and that the wave isn’t promised; its something everyone has to work for.

“You guys have all heard about this blue wave that’s coming, and here’s the really key part right now. You’re it,” She said. “Tag—you’re it. So as of today, I’ve almost put 13,000 miles on my car. This district is 5,500 square miles. I’m doing 15 events a week. I’m working 13-to-15 hour days right now, and I need your help because the power of water is millions of drops. A wave doesn’t exist without millions of drops.”

Frazier encouraged attendees to speak to everyone and anyone who will listen to encourage them to vote for Democratic, and to do everything in their power to chip in. Whether that be donating to candidates, knocking on doors or even handing campaign info to drive-through workers and grocery store clerks.

“Every time you do that, you are the blue wave, and we need your help,” Frazier said.