JAMESTOWN – Democrats from across the area gathered at Allen Park Saturday afternoon with the hopes of inspiring voters to “get out and vote” this November.
New York State Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul officially endorsed Tracy Mitrano for Congress. Hochul pushed for a “blue wave” to oust Republican incumbent Tom Reed.
“It’s about putting in place a woman of integrity, and character, and hard work, and highly educated, and understands the needs of this district because she’s lived through it as a mother, as a business person, as someone who has been fighting for cyber security to protect us from the Russians who have been stealing our elections, because that is what happened in 2016,” said Hochul. “We are so fortunate, so blessed to have someone like Tracy Mitrano step up and do this.”
As Election Day approaches, Mitrano said that she is working to unite the 23rd district by hosting a grass-root campaign.
“I do not cooperate with PAC money and I have raised over a million dollars from good people like the ones who are listening to us right now,” said Mitrano. “That’s how you unite people, they have skin in the game.”
Mitrano said that most of the people she spoke with at the rally were concerned about having quality health care and want to keep drug prices low.
“Because we are near Canada, a lot of people go over to Canada to get their medications that shouldn’t be,” explained Mitrano. “The United States is a big beautiful county. We can do this if we get special interests out-of-the-way.”
Last week at a rally in Jamestown, Reed called out Mitrano for changing her stance on the Second Amendment. Mitrano refuted those claims saying that she is for responsible gun ownership.
“We have to tighten up those background checks. Congress should not have any other laws imposing regulations on responsible gun owners but Congress must repeal the immunity it has given to gun manufactures and gun sellers from civil suites. That’s a violation of our Seventh Amendment.”
Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace was interrupted as a stand alone protestor called out political corruption in the county.
“I am honored to be your Sheriff,” said Gerace. “I am honored to lead one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the State of New York.”
“We’ve got a ton of wonderful people who work in the agency and it is a very complex and multifaceted agency, not just with law enforcement. I also oversee the court security, the county jail, and the 911 center and much more.”
Democrat candidate for Chautauqua County’s New York Assembly’s seat Judy Einach told WNYNewsNow that the biggest thing she learned Saturday was that local democrats really want to “bring this home” this November.
“Not just for my race, but for the race for Congress and the Race for Sheriff,” said Einach.
Einach said that as Election Day approaches, she is trying to draw more attention to her campaign to and rally voters.
“The Assembly is a democratic house and if we want resources flowing to Chautauqua County we need a democrat in that seat,” said Einach. “When we lost a democrat in that seat we lost all the resources that came with it.”
Fighting scattered rain showers, around fifty people attended the rally, including Ashville resident Jeri Simora.
“The emergency of this election is the result of so many people that did not turn out to vote,” said Simora. “Unless we all take an active part in our democracy, it is one of those things that we lose.”
On Tuesday night, Gerace and his challenger Jim Quattrone, along with New York State Assembly Man Andy Goodell and his challenger Judy Einach will debate during the League Of Women Voters Meet The Candidates forum at Jamestown Community College.
