Congress and the Senate Race

There has been a lot of back and forth, claims and counter claims and contrast and negative campaigning in the race for the 48th Senate district. I would offer you a single major reason to vote and this is just one reason you should vote for Will Barclay.

The 23rd Congressional Seat!!!!

This is not receiving the attention this issue deserves in this race, yet it has huge implications for the North Country, it means jobs, continuation of the Fort Drum expansion, services provided by our hospitals, quality education and school facilities and an overall healthy economy.

If the New York State Senate swings to the Democrats then they will control redistricting after the next census in 2010. They will work with the New York State Assembly to redistrict, the Senate and Assembly seats and Congressional Districts.

This will result in the New York State being redistricted to provide "safe seats" for Assembly and Senate. Now, I will go out on a limb here and tell you the system of reapportionment is flawed; it should be done by an independent panel of citizens and not those who have a stake in their employment. The system being what it is we must deal with reality and this means the likelihood of the system changing is NIL.

Now to the 23rd Congressional Seat.

New York State is likely to continue losing population, which means our representation in Congress dwindles. The reduction will impact the entire state but most of the pressure for the reduction or expansion of the districts will be felt in the upstate districts where the districts encompass a lot of territory. The 23rd district will become even larger than it is now and make it more difficult for our representative to get around to see their constituents. John McHugh who has done an outstanding job in providing for expansion at Fort Drum will more than certain be a target to be redistricted and to shift the voter balance to the Democrats thus putting his representation at risk. Therefore, our economy, jobs, education and health care are at risk for nothing more than political reasons.

A vote for Will Barclay will be a vote for John McHugh and protection of YOUR local economy.