Meet the Candidates: Tompkins County Legislature District 3 – Henry Granison

By Rob Montana
Tompkins Weekly

With at least 20 people announcing their plans to run for Tompkins County Legislature in the fall, Tompkins Weekly will be offering readers an opportunity to learn more about the people who will be appearing on ballots in September and November.

District 3, which covers a portion of the City of Ithaca, has been represented by Democrat Carol Chock since 2007. With Chock retiring at the end of her term, three people have stepped forward as candidates for her seat – Carolina Osorio Gil, Henry Granison and David Shapiro.
Here is what Granison had to say in response to our questions.

Tompkins Weekly: What are the top three issues facing Tompkins County?
Henry Granison: The top three issues, in no particular order, are affordable housing, the weakening of the federal social safety net and the living wage. There is a significant need for affordable housing in the county. As the problem is stated in the Tompkins County Housing Strategy Report, “existing housing stock is insufficient to meet current and future housing needs without forcing households to pay unaffordable housing costs, accept substandard housing conditions, or live outside the county.” I believe we need to implement the ideas included in this Housing Strategy Report. The Housing Strategy Report includes ideas from the Housing Summit and the Housing Needs Assessment Review.

The federal government, through its proposed budget and healthcare bills, threaten the safety net by cutting various programs, including Medicaid. Many of these proposed federal cuts would have a dramatic effect on people who live in the county. As people lose the protection of the safety net programs, many of these protections may fall to the county legislature. For example, if people lose healthcare coverage because of Medicaid reductions, then the county legislature may have to provide more funds to healthcare providers to provide free services for our low-income neighbors. These increased budgetary demands will cause a significant strain on the funds of the county.

The third issue is the payment of a living wage in Tompkins County. As with the issue of affordable housing, there is a great divide between the high income and low income people in the county. The living wage ordinance would help narrow the income inequality. Additionally, the living wage benefits the county. For example, on the margins, people will be able to afford better housing within the county, keeping their money local. Also, studies have shown that when lower wage workers earn additional funds they spend the funds in the local economy. This local spending helps the local economy grow, which creates a larger revenue stream for the county.

TW: What skills do you possess that would be an asset as a Tompkins County legislator?
HG: My legal training would greatly benefit my constituents. During law school and in my work in the private and public sectors (including at Cornell) I was trained to research, to question and to think analytically. As a county legislator, I would not be inclined to have a knee-jerk response to an issue. Rather, I would learn the complexities by learning the opinions of constituents, speaking to experts, and doing independent research. After this research, I would poke at the problem from all angles, together with the other legislators, to try to find the best solution to a problem. In establishing my position I would analyze all the information I learned, balance the competing values, and make informed decisions.
I also bring a collaborative spirit, a strong desire to work for the common good, and a clear sense of my values and the values of our community. I am not running for office to improve my resume or to fulfill the needs of my own ego. I am running to use my skills to help my neighbors.

TW: What is something that would surprise people to know about you?
HG: My first political job ever was when I was 10 years old and it was for the Nixon campaign. Yes, when think back I should have known better, but I was approached by someone willing to pay me to drop off literature. I was not aware of politics at the time and only cared that someone was willing to pay me for walking around. It was later very ironic that I later worked in the Washington, D.C. office of the Honorable Peter Rodino (NJ – D), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. In fact, Congressman Rodino had portraits of all of the past presidents who were in office when he was in Congress except one: There was a gap between Lyndon Baines Johnson and Gerald Ford. The lesson in this, of course, is that I no longer would engage in political activity just for the money.

TW: How would you balance the desires of your constituents and your own personal beliefs when making decisions as a member of the Legislature?
HG: I feel fortunate to have a very progressive district, so I do not believe that I will have many differences between my own personal beliefs and the desires of my constituents. Of course, the desires of my constituents will guide me when making decisions as a member of the legislature, because I believe in representative democracy. On issues that are more troublesome, however, I will consult my constituents and listen carefully to what they have to say, as well as do independent research. Then I will make the best decision based on all the information that I have.

 

TW: Why should people vote for you?
HG: People should vote for me because I can represent their interests well. First, I have a law degree from one of the best law schools in the country, Cornell Law School. Legal training is very important because this is a legislative position. I am used to using my analytical skills to examine situations and develop solutions. Also, I am quite comfortable reviewing and interpreting legislation. Secondly, I have lived in this district for almost 20 years and I have a good sense of the district’s needs at the county level. Thirdly, I have time to commit to the position. I work part-time at Tompkins Cortland Community College, so I will be able to devote in excess of 30 hours a week to the position.