BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

LOUISVILLE -- Republican Legislator Rita Curran is seeking her third term representing District 15, a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly.

“I take the job very seriously, as many people know, and I take pride in supporting my community,” Curran told North Country This Week.

Curran said she has been making the rounds in recent weeks, meeting with constituents to raise support but also to hear what their major concerns are.

“The cost of goods is high, healthcare services are spread thin and a lot of people need help right now. I want to continue the work I’ve been doing and support the residents of this county,” she said.

Curran has made a career of working in the healthcare field, giving her valuable insight as the county navigates declining services and short staffing at area hospitals.

Curran said the potential closure of labor and delivery services at Claxton-Hepburn is alarming.

“Healthcare is in a precarious position and losing those services could be a major loss for thousands of residents in the county and in particular those who would have to travel much farther for labor and delivery services,” she said.

Curran said her eight years of experience on the legislature is a major strength for her moving forward as she has a great understanding of how politics works, especially in the North Country.

“My understanding of my district and the county’s needs, that allows me to answer the call and put the right people together. That includes when it’s time to appeal to state and federal officials,” she said.

Curran said while supporting services is a major concern, she said it is also important for the county to toe the line on spending.

“Changes in appropriations and expenditures by the state have increased beyond what we manage as a county,” she said.

Curran said those unfunded mandates could stretch the county thin if spending increases in other areas.

“We can’t always control what the state does obviously, so we need to stay focused on our spending at the county level and ensure we have a strong fund balance to cover unfunded mandates,” Curran said.

She continued, saying she felt the county was on the right track repairing and upgrading infrastructure, including repaving many county roads that were in disrepair for several years.

Over the last five or so years, county officials have continually authorized using fund balance to add to the existing paving schedule.

Curran said that sort of reinvestment has been crucial to the future of the county.

Still, more needs to be done, she said.

“I think we need additional work on Solid Waste to determine what will work best moving forward,” she said.

Curran said above all else she loves the county and wants to do whatever she can to help the residents, whether she represents them in District 15 or not.

“I love this county and her people. I want what is best for them to be safe and able to grow in their jobs and to keep their families here. I have always been people first before anything and I always will be,” she said.

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