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Albany won’t look fondly on county votes

OBSERVER Photo Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul is proud of New York state’s investment in Western New York.

While on the campaign trail in Dunkirk last month, state Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said all the right things in urging voters to back two Democratic candidates. In her typical upbeat style, she handed out compliments to everyone in the room of the Steelworkers Union Hall, including Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas and Fredonia Mayor Athanasia Landis.

Hochul appreciates those who lead local governments across the region and understands the huge commitment it is. Following her endorsements on the fall October Saturday, she then did something she absolutely takes pride in: boosting Western New York and Chautauqua County.

In an interview following that morning appearance, Hochul noted she was heading back to Buffalo that day on Route 5 to see the progress of one of the largest developments to hit the north county in years.

“That is such an important project for this communty,” she said of the Athenex effort, noting the potential impact of 900 jobs that could be here in 2020.

Athenex also provides one more thing this area is lacking: hope. In recent months, downtown Dunkirk has been losing a lot of its heart, especially on Central Avenue in Dunkirk. With the retirement of owners Patty and Gary Damico, P&G Foods — a 25-year staple — has closed. Other buildings on the strip also remain vacant.

Hochul said rejuvenating the longtime struggling economy of Western New York has been the priority of current Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

“It’s been so exciting to be a part of the investments made by this governor in this region,” she said.

Thank goodness for Hochul and the position she continues to hold. She provides such an important balance to this state, which is often so focused on New York City and Long Island.

That was not a guarantee around summertime. During the September primary, Hochul had competition for the state’s second highest post from Jumaane Williams, a New York City council member. If Williams had won, who knows what imbalance upstate would have faced starting in January.

As of right now, the results last week have put us even farther behind the 8-ball. No one is complaining — especially voters — in re-electing strong candidates Assemblyman Andrew Goodell and Sen. Catharine Young. But when the state Senate turned from a Republican majority to a minority, the area to the west of Albany lost some clout.

Bill Parment, 28-year state assemblyman for Chautauqua County until 2010, sent this item to our newspaper not long after the election results became official: “What do Charles Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Tom Reed, Young, and Goodell have in common?

“Answer: They are all in the minority.

“This is the first time for Chautauqua County in modern memory that every representative will be in the minority,” Parment noted. “It may be the first time in county history. Based on trends in recent elections it may be a long time before we see this change.”

Speaking of trends, our county continued its history of going red. Besides electing Jim Quattrone as sheriff, our county also leaned toward Marc Molinaro — with 60 percent of the vote — for governor; Keith Wofford for state attorney general with 61 percent of the vote; and Chele Farley for U.S. Senate with 52 percent of the vote.

With the exception of Quattrone, all those Republicans were handily defeated. How that shakes out for a county that relies on an overabundance of public-sector jobs to drive our economy cannot be easily ignored.

Cuomo’s lack of support comes down to his soured reputation here for the rushed SAFE Act on firearms in 2013. Gun rights obviously matter in our region and county. But never has anyone said we need more guns here. Jobs, yes. Guns, no.

For the record, Cuomo is the first governor to even attempt to help Western New York and Chautauqua County bounce back from its prolonged 50-year recession. There’s actually proof of that in the economic resurgence of Buffalo.

He still — for all those efforts — was not embraced in an election by this region. Don’t for one moment think those results will go unnoticed in Albany.

John D’Agostino is the OBSERVER publisher. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 366-3000, ext. 401.

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