Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Two current officeholders are seeking to head to Albany, representing the 61st district in the State Senate.
"I have been very effective as a town councilwoman and deputy Supervisor in Amherst, and I believe that I can bring the values and work ethic that I believe in to the State Senate," says Jacqui Berger. Berger says good jobs, economic development and expanding the trades will be important. "We need to fund and support apprenticeship programs," says Berger.
She adds infrastructure needs to be addressed, and not just roads and bridges. "We need to expand broadband. There's a lot of modern technology farmers can use but they can't take advantage of right now because they don't have the broadband they need," explains Berger.
Berger believes it will come down to turnout. "I work hard, I know the people in the district, and they're coming out and voting. We already have a large number of people who have voted, and we're an unusually shaped district, but I have strong advantages in two parts of the district," says Berger.
Berger is challenging Ed Rath, an Erie County Legislator for 13 years. "I've worked very hard on many issues that translate well into leadership in Albany," says Rath. "I have prioritized work for seniors with the Silver Alert local law. I've protected our children by making cyberbullying illegal."
Rath says supporting law enforcement is vital. "We need to make sure we are funding and prioritizing law enforcement, giving them the resources they need out of government. The last thing we should be doing is defunding police because they keep the law and order in our communities," notes Rath.
Rath says COVID19 has led to frustrations for business owners. "I've heard from small business, restaurants and nursing home frustrated with a lack of transparency with regard to state policies. We need to have an open government and the state needs to be accountable to people," adds Rath. "We should look closely at the executive order control the governor has and make that temporary, not 12 months. The state house needs to be back at work reinforcing transparency and accountability, something that's lacking right now."
What will the race come down to? "I think it's going to come down to the candidate who has a full understanding of the diverse needs of this district. We have rural and agricultural communities that comprise the bulk of the region so we need policies that protect farmers. We also have urban and suburban communities. The diversity of this district needs a champion who understands how government works," says Rath.
