Stec Announces State Senate Candidacy


After announcing his plan this week to run for the state Senate, Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) met with all six Republican County Chairs that comprise the 45th Senate District. Left to right seated – Franklin Co GOP Chair Shelley Mulverhill, Assemblyman Dan Stec, Essex Co GOP Chair John Gereau, Standing are – Warren Co GOP Chair Mike Grasso, Washington Co GOP Chair Dan Boucher, St Lawrence Co GOP Chair Tom Jenison.

Assemblyman Dan Stec (R,C,I-Queensbury) has announced his candidacy for the state Senate’s 45th District. Senator Betty Little announced she’ll be stepping down in 2020 after serving 25 years in the Legislature. Stec, who has worked closely with Senator Little both as an Assemblyman and as a local elected official, has the experience and proven record necessary to ensure North Country residents continue receiving honest, accountable leadership in the Senate.

Stec issued the following statement on his campaign for Senate:

“I’m proud to announce my candidacy today for state Senate. With the news of Senator Little’s retirement, it’s so important that we elect someone that understands the issues we face, and has the experience and record of fighting on our behalf.

“My top priorities have always been defending our values and fighting for common-sense solutions to the challenges we face. This is why I’ve partnered with local law enforcement to oppose the bail reforms instituted by Senate and Assembly Democrats. It’s why I opposed giving drivers’ licenses, ‘free’ college tuition to illegal immigrants and other initiatives that put the rights of criminals before the well-being of our communities.

“As an Assemblyman, I helped pass the first countywide EMS bill for Essex County – the first of its kind in the state. I championed the constitutional amendment to strip pensions from corrupt politicians and shepherded three other constitutional amendments that were important to the residents of the North Country. I have and will continue to make investments in important infrastructure like roads, water, sewer, broadband and cell service critical to our economy and public safety a high priority.

“This is the proven record of advocacy and accomplishment I want to bring to the state Senate. With one-party control, we need someone who will push back against the radical liberal tax-and spend agenda that crushes our communities. We need someone who will work to achieve solutions to our problems that reflect our needs and values. We need someone who will continue Senator Little’s strong legacy as an honest, hardworking elected official.

“As our next state Senator, that’s exactly what I will do.”

The 45th Senate District includes all of Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Warren Counties, as well as parts of St. Lawrence and Washington Counties. Stec’s Assembly District comprises the entirety of Warren and Essex Counties, as well as the northern parts of Saratoga and Washington Counties. He was elected to represent the district in 2012. Prior to his becoming Assemblyman, Stec was the Queensbury Town Supervisor and Chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

Senator Little Will Not Seek Re-Election


State Senator Betty Little announcing that she will not run for re-election.

State Senator Betty Little today announced she will not seek re-election and will retire from the Senate at the completion of her term on December 31, 2020. Little has represented the 45th District since 2003 and previously served seven years in the State Assembly.

“Although it is very difficult for me to contemplate stepping away from the public service that I love so much, it’s time,” said Little. “Being able to do this work for so many years has been the greatest honor. I’ve not taken one moment of it for granted.

“Representing a vast district comprising six counties, two cities, 83 towns, 20 villages and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe at Akwesasne, I have had a very unique perspective to learn a lot about this region and gotten to know many good people working hard to make better lives for themselves, their families and their communities. As a state representative, I’ve always felt the best I can do is to complement those efforts. Whether it has been through legislation, or funding for so many different and important initiatives and projects, being in a position to help has been so rewarding.

“And, certainly, a lot of this work is about assisting people with their own personal issues. The hands-on constituent work is quiet, behind the scenes advocacy that, for the individual helped, can mean the world. I only wish I could do more.”

Little’s career in public office began in 1986 when she was elected to the Warren County Board of Supervisors. In 1995, she was elected in a special election to represent the 109th Assembly District. When Senator Ron Stafford announced his retirement in 2002, Little ran for and won the State Senate seat in November that year and has been reelected eight times since.

Over the past 19 years in the Senate, Little sponsored 322 new chapters of law. These include measures to protect private property rights by raising the standard for making an adverse possession claim; protect environmentally sensitive grasslands; combat invasive species; and raise awareness of pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).

Little said her greatest legislative achievement has been the approval of five State Constitutional amendments to address matters specific to the Adirondack Park. Each amendment required passage by two separately elected Legislatures and then approval by voters on a statewide ballot.

“Amending the State Constitution isn’t taken lightly and convincing my colleagues in Albany this was necessary required a lot of work,” said Little. “In each instance, it took a tremendous amount of collaboration, cooperation and persistence. I commend our local officials, environmental groups and all others who worked on these amendments for their willingness to keep pushing to reach an agreement and to encourage the necessary support of voters across New York State.”

The mother of military sons, Little has been a strong advocate for servicemen and women, sponsoring Patriot Plans I and II to provide various benefits to active-duty military personnel and their families.

Little also spearheaded the effort to create a Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and sponsored legislation to protect the childhood home of Susan B. Anthony in the Town of Greenwich.

During her tenure, Little served as chair of the Senate’s Local Government, Tourism and Cultural Arts and Housing Committees and as a member of the Senate Rules and Finance Committees. She is now the ranking Republican on the Senate Education Committee.

Little is a long-time resident of Queensbury. She was born and raised in Glens Falls, attended St. Mary’s Academy and is a graduate of the College of St. Rose with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught on Staten Island and in the Queensbury School District before starting a family. She has six children and 18 grandchildren.

“With the year ahead of me and not having to focus on re-election, I will do all I can on behalf of those I am honored to represent,” said Little. “I plan to spend a lot of time travelling throughout the district and am hopeful for a productive session in Albany. Who knows what will follow when I retire at the end of next year, but I look forward to staying active, engaged and busy and being helpful wherever and whenever I can,” Little said.

Culverts: Not Just for Human Use

As everyone knows, Washington county is a large county with much of its total acreage dedicated to farming and dairy production. I like to occasionally spotlight things going on in the county that might be of interest. Today, I wanted to explain what the Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) does.

The Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) is a unique unit of local government that was founded in 1945. Their mission is to assist agricultural producers, rural landowners and municipalities with the management, conservation and best use of our natural resources. In plain terminology – they protect the County’s soil and water resources while maintaining the viability of agriculture as a preferred land use.

Culverts: Not Just for Human Use
by Laura Generous, District Technician

While many of us pay little attention to the culverts or bridges we pass on our daily commutes, or maybe just look at the picturesque water that flows through, aquatic critters must face the challenges they pose to get from one section of stream to the next. The North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaboration (NAACC) has set up a protocol to inventory culverts and bridges across the northeast.

Trained individuals use a variety of tools to record field observations of culverts and bridges along transportation routes such as roads, railways, and trails. These observations are then entered into a database, scored, and mapped. While the primary objective is to determine if the culvert is passable to aquatic organisms such as fish, frogs, and turtles, it also considers passage for our four-legged friends such as chipmunks, fox, and deer.

It is also a great way to determine the condition of the culvert, which can help highway workers add another — just cause for replacing something that may fail soon. These inventories help conservation efforts of several agencies and non-profits by ranking culverts as to the ability for an aquatic critter to get from one side of the culvert to the other.

This ranking can show funding sources and be used in grant applications to help replace these culverts, so they are safer for use to drive over as well as easy to pass through for our aquatic friends. Look at the pictures and think about which you would rather “swim” through, and which are a little unwelcoming.

Administrators Note: Many thanks to the Washington County Soil & Water Conservation District and Laura Generous for their permission to reprint their article and pictures here.

Rep. Stefanik Visits Washington County Fair


Congresswoman Stefanik competing in the annual milking contest with the Dairy Princesses and Ambassadors at the Washington County Fair.

Representative Stefanik attended the Washington County Fair for the seventh year recently. She spoke with constituents and promoted the importance of the agriculture sector and dairy industry to our North Country economy. Congresswoman Stefanik has been readily accessible over her years in office to the people she represents, holding over 1000 constituent district events.

Dresden Democrats Hold Caucus

The Dresden Democratic Party held their caucus on Wednesday night and George Gang was selected to be the Democratic nominee for Town Supervisor.

No other individuals were selected to run for any other local offices.

Free Recycling to End at Transfer Station

The company that runs the Whitehall Transfer Station has announced that recycling taken from trash haulers will no longer be free.

A 15 lb bag or bin of recycling will now cost $2.25 and a 30 lb bag or bin will cost $4.50.

The company sites “increasing costs” and “loss of global recycling markets” for these new charges.