DEMOCRATS

BACK ZEPHYR

Koch Brothers’ ‘Dark Money’

Headed To 19th, She Reports

By JIM KEVLIN • for www.AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – Despite a forceful presentation by her primary opponent that appeared to take her by surprise, Zephyr Teachout won the support of the Otsego County Democratic Committee a few minutes ago in her bid to replace retiring Republican Congressman Chris Gibson in the 19th District this fall.

Teachout, who reminded her audience she won 71 percent of Otsego County voters in her 2014 primary bid against Governor Cuomo, was endorsed by almost all the two dozen county committee members who gathered this evening in Village Board chambers at 22 Main.

Only three – County Rep. Andrew Stammel, D-Town of Oneonta, Springfield Town Supervisor Bill Elsey, and SUNY Oneonta poly-sci associate professor Brett Heindl – supported Will Yandik, a farmer, environmentalist, town board member and Princeton grad (he told of receiving a shotgun as a graduation present) who is vying with Teachout in the April 19 primary.

A fourth, former Oneonta mayor Kim Muller, abstained.

A revelation from Teachout:   She told the 50 party faithful she just learned the Koch brothers have targeted the district – apparently one of a dozen considered in contention nationwide – for “big money, dark money.”

In his remarks, Yandik stressed his Upstate roots as a fourth-generation farmer in Ulster County, noting he won scholarships to Brown and Princeton, but “I’ve come full circle because I believe in this place.”

He touched on a number of issues of local interest — tourism, craft foods, microbrewing, broadband — and peppered his remarks with data specific to Otsego County.  For instance, that tourism generates $22 million in tax revenues locally, reducing every family’s tax burden by $834.  He also noted that one in four local people are over 55, and that’s expected to rise to one in three by 2020.

He said that solar panels are becoming cost-effective and , if elected, he would seek an end to all oil and gas subsidies.

Instead of going to D.C. and seeking to change it, he said his strategy would be to look at local needs and see how federal programs might meet them.

Where Yandik discussed his background and ticked off his list of issues in about 10 minutes, Teachout appeared taken aback and spoke, a bit rambling at points — and admitting as much — for more than twice that.

As if Yandik’s farming credentials put her on the defensive, she described her rural upbringing in Vermont, four miles from the local school, where the school bus — a station wagon — would go no further than three miles.  (To laughs, the slender candidate noted she learned early in her school experience that Zephyr “rhymes with heifer.”)

She reported already receiving 4,000 donations, with an average donation of $28, ($1 more than Bernie Sanders’ vaunted $27 average.)  For his part, Yandik said he’s raised $250,000, and both — in response to a question from Muller — described how they are ramping up their campaigns and bringing aboard political pros to help guide the undertakings.

Teachout also got specific on how she might help localities here, talking about sewer and water money — Cooperstown Mayor Jeff Katz, whose village needs such money, was in the audience — and a bridge to connect Oneonta’s D&H yards to the vicinity of I-88 — Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig was present, too.

She spoke out against Common Core — a hot issue locally in 2014, although less of one now — and reflected how big a help it would be if every teacher in the 19th donated a mere $5 apiece to her campaign.

SUNY Oneonta student Frank Pacella, involved in student campaigns, asked who they are supporting for president.  Yandik said he hasn’t made up his mind, adding, “My head is with Hillary, but my heart is with Bernie.”  Teachout said she  has already supported Sanders, noting that they agree on a central issue:  Getting big money out of politics.

In calling the question, Democratic county chair Richard Abbate noted that the executive committee has already met and endorsed Teachout, and he asked the committee to do the same, which it did.