Oneida County elections 2022: Who is on the ballot for NY 122nd Assembly District seat
State Assemblyman Brian Miller is running again and will face a pair of challengers — Daniel Buttermann and Colton Mennig — for the newly drawn 122nd Assembly seat.
The Assembly seat includes the towns of Augusta, Bridgewater, Kirkland, Marshall, New Hartford, Paris, Sangerfield, Verona, Vernon and Westmoreland in Oneida County. It also includes the cities of Oneida and Oneonta.
Election Day is Nov. 8. Early voting in Oneida County is available from Oct. 29 through Nov. 6.
Here's what the candidates had to say about their politics and the challenges facing the region.
How to vote early:When, where and the rest of your early voting questions answered
Other local races:Here's who's on the ballot for NY 119th Assembly District seat
The candidates are listed in alphabetical order and were given the same three questions. Their responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Daniel Buttermann, Democrat
Describe yourself and your political philosophy to voters
Entrepreneurship and service are a part of my family, for generations. I grew up in a family business making candles, which my parents started in 1971 and is still open today. My grandfather owned and operated an ice cream production company for many years, and my other grandfather was a career Marine before enjoying a second career in insurance.
I hope my public service career matches the example set by my parents and grandparents. They understood the value of building community as you build your business. My goals are to follow that model – support the community building by supporting the people, businesses and organizations doing the work.
This district is diverse and each community within it should be supported and celebrated for its unique contribution to the special character of Central New York.
What challenges does the Mohawk Valley face which are best addressed at the state level, rather than the local or federal level?
Regulations that shape the decisions of local leadership, in public or private roles, are best to start at the state level. For example, our state has embarked on a generational shift in energy infrastructure, and the construction of large-scale renewable projects require regulatory direction. Town leaders are working to update their zoning laws and codes to ensure these projects do not harm their environment, agricultural prospects or other economic development opportunities.
The regulations can give guidance and ensure consistency across town and county lines. The regulations are not just for town government direction but give direction on how the state will act as it develops energy projects. For example, there is reasonable concern that large scale solar projects will harm agricultural land, and we should not do that. I agree with and support the Farm Bureau’s policy initiative that state projects should be placed on land categorized as not useful farmland.
What needs to change in Albany to ensure the state government is best serving the people?
The change needed in Albany is new people, new representatives – Democrats and Republicans alike, and more participation in the election process. In the August primary, participation from registered Republicans and Democrats was less than 20%, and the no-party voters had almost no say in who will be on the ballot in November.
In the last five years, voter registration has changed rapidly with over 400,000 no-party registrations. No-party voters now outnumber Republicans. However, election law has not changed, so an independent candidate still must secure three times as many signatures to be on the ballot than a Democrat or Republican candidate.
Changes in election law, such as petition requirements are needed, plus an election reform commission can do valuable work by proposing other reforms, such as ranked choice voting, to ensure voters are confident in their choices. This will lead to better service by our state government.
Colton Mennig, Working Families
Describe yourself and your political philosophy to voters
I was born and raised in Central New York, the son of working class parents. Growing up I saw the struggles my family and neighbors faced, which motivated me to get involved in finding solutions. I’ve worked with three US Senators, a Congressman, and a federal agency to fight for our communities. In these roles I advocated for comprehensive environmental protections and worked in government oversight to ensure our government is effective and ethical.
During the pandemic, I stepped up to help local public schools address staffing shortages. These experiences will allow me to get to work on day one to effectively advocate for our communities.
I’m running because I understand the struggles working families are facing. I’m running because our communities deserve an effective voice in Albany. I’m running because democracy matters. As your Assemblyman, I am committed to listening and fighting for a better future for all of us.
What challenges does the Mohawk Valley face which are best addressed at the state level, rather than the local or federal level?
Working families are facing economic challenges that must be comprehensively addressed at all levels of government. Central New Yorkers are being forced to make tough choices and Albany has an opportunity to alleviate some of that stress. As assemblyman, I will advocate for tax relief for working families, retirees, farmers, and small businesses.
New York State is also in a great position to lead the way in environmental protection. The Mohawk Valley has already seen the effects of climate change, including increased local flooding. We need to take comprehensive action by improving public transportation in Central New York, including shifting to an environmentally friendly fleet, and increasing solar panel utilization on public buildings. Our state can and should do more to improve the lives of Central New Yorkers.
What needs to change in Albany to ensure the state government is best serving the people?
Our communities deserve a government they can trust. Too often our representatives are inaccessible and public information is hard to find. Albany needs to work to ensure as much information as possible is made available to the public in an accessible format.
Everyday New Yorkers should be able to find public information with ease and without jumping through unnecessary hoops. Our state government also needs an ethics commission that effectively holds government officials responsible. Members of this commission must be independent and must make as much information as possible publicly available. We must ensure our elected officials are held accountable and guarantee ethics in our government. It’s what New Yorkers deserve.
Brian Miller, Republican/Conservative
Describe yourself and your political philosophy to voters
Throughout my years in public service, I have built a reputation of being willing and able to work together, while putting partisan politics aside. I know that there is a great deal that can be accomplished when we listen to our constituents. I co-sponsor legislation offered by members of both parties if I believe it will improve everyday life for our residents and lead to the betterment of our state.
We need to make investments to improve our infrastructure, fight and provide relief for our families, protect our communities by repealing policies such as bail reform, remove burdens to job growth and small businesses, stand with farmers and work to bring broadband to our region.
I will continue to advocate for our veterans, and fight for all educational paths, including the trades. I will also continue to fight for upstate and work to prevent our morals and values being compromised.
What challenges does the Mohawk Valley face which are best addressed at the state level, rather than the local or federal level?
Infrastructure needs, public safety and helping the agricultural community are all challenges in the Mohawk Valley. I always advocate for the state government to invest more money into CHIPS and BRIDGE-NY funding for our local roads and bridges. We need more funds directed to century-old water and sewer infrastructure in parts of upstate.
Public safety has been hindered by bail reform. This has made it near impossible for local law enforcement officers to do their jobs to keep our communities safe, while addressing mental health and opioid issues that are prevalent here.
Our farmers are in desperate need of help. The state continues to implement mandates that are putting our local farmers at a disadvantage, directly impacting them and indirectly impacting our pockets through rising food costs. A lack of housing is a challenge where the state could step in and help local municipalities turn some undesirable properties into housing.
What needs to change in Albany to ensure the state government is best serving the people?
We, as a legislative body, are here to serve our constituents. Single-party control does not work well for the masses, regardless of which party. Unfortunately, the past years have been dominated by a downstate agenda. We need more upstate representation. This is not a “one size fits all” state. Albany needs to advocate for the needs of its people throughout the whole state, not just New York City.
I want to provide the tools so residents can prosper. My time as an engineer has solidified my foundation of thinking — which consists of analyzing problems, getting to the root of those problems and coming up with ways to solve those problems. That is something Albany has been missing for a while and, as my experience during the last six years has taught me, needs more of. It is my sincere hope that we can address the needs of our upstate communities.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Election 2022: Q&A with NY 122nd Assembly District candidates
