BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

LISBON – Lisbon native Blake Gendebien says his experience as a farmer, businessman, school board member, coach, father, husband and dairy cooperative board member make him the best choice to replace Elise Stefanik in the the 21st Congressional District.

The Democrat says he wears many hats, but what he says makes him a unique candidate in the traditionally very red congressional district is the fact he is not part of the political machine.

Although the NY 21st is traditionally a Republican district, Gendebien says he brings something different to the table for Democrats.

Not beholden to parties

“I'm not a politician. I'm a farmer at heart who cares about my neighbors. I don't have pressure from Albany. I don't have pressure from D.C.”

He said he is disappointed in government grid lock and jockeying for power he's seen on both sides of the aisle.

"It resulted in a lot of inaction in the North Country," he said.

Gendebien said when he sees a car off the road, he doesn’t ask what their political affiliation is, he hooks his chain up and pulls them out.

He plans to govern the same way. He said that if he’s elected to congress he’ll be representing all of the constituents regardless of their party membership.

“I do not see myself being a victim of the lines being drawn. This is my neighborhood,” he said.

Addressing local issues

Gendebien wants to go to D.C. as an advocate for the entire North Country.

He wants to tackle the problems that face everyone right now. That includes reducing grocery prices, fuel prices and holding line on tax burdens. 

He says there needs to be an emphasis put on housing initiatives to create something people can afford and make sure help is in place to address an aging electorate as senior care is vanishing in the North Country.

Among his top priorities, though, are ensuring healthcare is affordable and accessible. That includes ensuring people don’t have to travel hours to see specialists and that costs associated with health care aren’t crippling families.

He said that the passage of the controversial Affordable Care Act was something that changed his life.

"When Carmen and I both became self-employed, we could barely afford health insurance. It was like we had two mortgages," he said.

Gendebien was noncommittal on how best to address health care issues. He did not offer support for a single-payer option or expanding Medicare;  instead he said he'd support "any improvement to the Affordable Care Act that makes lives in the North Country better."

Gendebien took a similar stance on immigration, which he says needs to bring law and order, but also ensure it does not destroy paths to citizenship or hurt the labor force.

 Although he did not directly oppose New York State's controversial Greenlight Law, which has been scrutinized for creating information barriers between federal and state law enforcement agencies, he said we need  make sure our policing agencies are working together and sharing information

As a farmer and someone who lives in a border town, Gendebien says he knows there are problems.

"It's not just a southern border issue. We have a Northern border that needs attention."

He said that reforms are needed to ensure people are entering the country legally and there is a process in place that allows that to happen smoothly.

At the same time, he says we need to secure the northern border and "stop using it as a political tool to divide us," he said.

He said immigration and traveling workers are crucial to the American farms labor force. He said a failure to keep that workforce thriving is the fastest way to drive up grocery prices.

“A good way to make food more expensive is to import it all,” he said.

At the same time, he believes America could feed the world if it ensures a viable workforce exists. He said farmers know that, and that they should be part of the conversation.

Gendebien says that both parties need to work together on legislation that lets people in and keeps criminals out.

Although Pres. Donald Trump doesn’t have a strong history of working across the aisle, Gendebien said if he’s elected he will work to find common ground where it exists.

He said that one such area could be on some aspects of border security.

“He is our president, I’m a critical thinker. If there is common sense legislation that is delivered, I will support it,” he said. 

Who is Blake Gendebien?

Gendebien graduated from Lisbon Central School before going on to Penn State University and after that moved to Germany to work for the Fendt Tractor Company.

In that job he helped introduce the Fendt tractor brand to North America. He went on to work for Agco Corporation where he served as product marketing manager for the Rogator/TerraGator equipment.

Gendebien recalls that it was around that time he was living in Georgia, and he received a phone call from his father telling him the farm next door was for sale and said that after discussing plans with his wife, they decided to move back home where they continue to operate today.

Aside from running the 500-cow dairy Twin Mill Farms, Gendebien also serves as Vice Chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark, which is one of the largest milk suppliers in the North Eastern United States.

He and his wife have also operated the Jules of Life Foundation, a non-profit that provides assistance for families navigating cancer related issues. Additionally they operated Glow Skincare and Spa, which they later sold, and A Wholesome Glow, which manufactures skincare products.

Gendebien also served on the Lisbon School Board, but stepped down so he could coach basketball there.

His love for agriculture and family permeates nearly every response to any question asked of him. Gendebien said he’s grateful that he continues to work with his father on a daily basis and sincerely believes farmers are some of the best businessmen and problem-solvers in the world.

“If you want to talk about rising food prices, send a farmer to congress. If you want to talk about rising energy prices, send a farmer to congress. If you want to talk about rising family costs, send a farmer to congress,” he said.

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