To the Editor:

The St. Lawrence Republican County Committee worked very hard last winter to recruit respected, qualified individuals to run for public office. Registered Republicans put our candidates on the November 2020 ballot by carrying petitions, holding caucuses or by voting in the primary election process – all against the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the top of the ticket, President Trump and Vice-President Pence need our support and our vote.

Seeking re-election are Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, 21st CD; NYS Senator Joe Griffo, 47th SD and NYS Senator Patty Ritchie, 48th SD. Newcomer Dan Stec is running for the Senate seat in the 45th SD vacated by the retirement of NYS Senator Betty Little. In the NYS Assembly, Assemblyman Mark Walczyk, 116th AD, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, 117th AD, and Assemblyman Robert Smullen, 118th AD, are running for re-election.

Greg Storie has campaigned tirelessly across the county for St Lawrence County Court Judge. “Greg is a serious attorney who is ready to apply his experience and depth of knowledge to his work for the citizens of St Lawrence County,” Joe Gray, former Massena Town Supervisor, wrote recently.

There are Special Elections in three of our County Legislative Districts: LD05, towns of Gouverneur and Depeyster, Harry A Smithers, II, a successful Gouverneur businessman; LD10, Potsdam Election Districts 05 and 06, Brenda Spurbeck, an experienced medical provider of 25 years; and LD11, Potsdam Election Districts 04 and 07 and the town of Stockholm, Chad Colbert, who operates his own financial planning office and teaches at Clarkson University. All three candidates have attended Board of Legislators meetings becoming familiar with issues facing the County and have reached out to his/her constituents to hear what the issues are relative to his/her district.

Lastly, some towns may have elections for Town Clerk, Town Council, and/or Town Justice; some villages may have elections for Village Trustee and/or Village Justice. The City of Ogdensburg has a City Court Judge candidate in Republican Ramona Breen. Check your ballot carefully.

Voters have three options for casting their vote in the 2020 election: (1) Vote on Election Day, November 3, 2020, between the hours of 6am and 9pm at your designated polling site. (2) Vote in person at the Board of Elections Office, 2nd Floor, 80 State Highway 310, Canton, beginning Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1. (3) Request and file an Absentee Ballot.

Our Republican candidates support our core values of protecting the rights of the individual, fiscal conservatism and minimal government regulations on family and business values. All our candidates would appreciate your vote.

Nancy Martin, chairwoman

St. Lawrence Republican County Committee