Republicans on the ballot this November

It was a rainy May afternoon when I and about 20 other people first met Lee Zeldin and his wife and daughters at my house in Lansing a year and a half ago. I was worried the cars would sink into the mud in my lawn. 

The questions were pointed. Why do you want to be governor of New York? Why do you think you can win? What can you do to make New Yorkers’ lives better? Now, with early voting starting Saturday, he’s answered every question and been to every corner of the state multiple times, and I hope you’ll answer his call to help him save our state by voting for him.

The issues 18 months ago have only grown in severity, ignored by the current administration. Crime was clearly on the rise then. Zeldin asked Alison Esposito, a more than 25-year veteran of the New York Police Department, to help him tackle the problem. 

The issue continues to poll near the top of New Yorkers’ concerns, and yet, it’s dismissed by the governor and legislators who refuse to make even modest changes. Our judges have been stripped of many powers to hold those arrested by police. Policing is already a dangerous job, but many officers feel abandoned by their elected officials.

You’ve been to the supermarket. I do the shopping at BJ’s, and what used to cost me $80, mostly produce, now costs me $120. Zeldin worked his way through college, became an attorney, continues to serve in the military and is right now serving in Congress. He feels the same economic pressures you do. 

New York continues to lead the way in people leaving. Zeldin wants to flip the script. Instead of parents advocating their children leave New York for more opportunity, Zeldin will enact policies to make New York their choice — the choice of where to build their career, business and family. You can find out more about Zeldin at zeldinfornewyork.com.

Marc Molinaro chose to do just that in New York, and he’s running to be the congressman for Tompkins County, now in District 19, running from here to the Massachusetts border. Molinaro has built his whole life around service to New Yorkers. He was not just born here — he’s built his life here, is raising his children here, has served as a mayor and now is a county executive. 

We need Molinaro in Washington as a check on President Joe Biden’s policies, which simply aren’t working. We cannot continue with a border policy that has already overwhelmed border states and now, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other big-city mayors, is overtaxing their systems. 

Molinaro knows the damage overspending in Washington has done to your buying power, your 401k and your planned retirement. Molinaro is focused on crime and the economy but also talks more than any other candidate for Congress about what needs to be done for mental illness, drug addiction or for children and adults with learning disabilities. He’s a champion for local government and how we, the county, city and town representatives can serve you. Learn more at marcforus.com.

Rich David wants to be our New York state senator. Tompkins will now be in one Senate district instead of being split by three senators. That weakens our voice in the Senate with one person doing the work of three. David is the only candidate with the record of success to replace three senators. 

He was the mayor of Binghamton, leaving because of term limits, with his deputy becoming the next mayor. He’s seen firsthand the rise in crime under bail reform and has met the challenges New York state government creates in development projects. With David as mayor, there was a revitalization of downtown Binghamton. It is now a place to visit and not just a crossing of interstates. He’s shouldered the weight of COVID-19 and a teetering economy both as a mayor and as a small business owner. Learn more at richdavidforsenate.com.

Michael Henry is running for attorney general to replace an AG whose only concern seems to be a former president and former governor. Henry is the first in his family to go to college and has worked in commercial and immigrant asylum law. Henry’s opponent has not supported police and has refused to address the crime that’s made every community less safe.

She won’t even debate Henry. A friend of mine’s daughter just started attending Cornell University and was told to stay out of downtown Ithaca at night by other Cornell students. This cannot remain the status quo. Public safety is a right. Learn more at michaelhenryforag.com.

Joe Pinion is running for U.S. Senate from New York against Charles Schumer. For this job, the question is simple. Schumer has been in the senate for almost 24 years. In that two decades, has New York seen its fair share from Washington? Has New York stayed competitive with other states? Is New York better than it was 20 years ago? The answer is no, and it’s time to fix that with a new energy, a new dream. Find out more at joepinion.com.

All of these Republicans running are invested in New York, just as you are. They didn’t move here to run for office, did not fall into the job because of the corruption of a past administration, are not looking for a stepping stone and are not in it for the titles. It’s past time for common sense; it’s time to save our state. Early voting starts Saturday at the Airport Crash Rescue building and Ithaca Town Hall, and Election Day is Nov. 8.

Republican View appears in the last edition of each month in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.