BETTER THAN HEARSAY - Priming For a Primary - Greene County Democrats Host 102nd Assembly District Candidate Forum (Part 2 of Two-Part Series)

THOMAS BOOMHOWER

MARY FINNERAN

JANET TWEED

CAIRO - Greene County Democratic Party members recently hosted the trio of in-Party candidates seeking the 102nd Assembly District seat.

Democrats gathered in Cairo for comments from, and a brisk question-and-answer session with Thomas Boomhower, Mary Finneran and Janet Tweed, destined for a June 23 primary.

Whoever emerges victorious will be backed by the Party, says county co-chairperson Marc Czermerys, running in November against already-designated Republican Party nominee Marc Molinaro.

The common goal is to replace incumbent Chris Tague, stepping down from the 102nd to pursue a spot in the State Senate.

Boomhower was recently elected to the Catskill village board of trustees. Finneran is chairwoman of Cairo town Democratic Party. 

Tweed is a village of Delhi council member, and ran for the 102nd slot in 2024, defeated by Tague in a district controlled since 1973 by the GOP.

In followup emails, Boomhower, Finneran and Tweed answered questions related to the campaign, including how they will defeat Molinaro (in Part 1, last week). There are two questions this week:

1)What are the critical issues you would support/push forth if elected?

THOMAS BOOMHOWER

The biggest issue impacting our communities is the staggering cost of living crisis. That's why my platform is centered on driving Economic Security for All and Real Results for our Communities.

In the NY State Assembly, we have the power to help do that by introducing and championing legislation that would recenter our rural communities here in the 102nd District.

Specifically I plan to do that with programs that help us tackle housing affordability by making it easier for communities to build housing and making existing funding programs more accessible for them.

Another major priority of mine is supporting our small businesses and farmers here in the 102nd District. We need to cut through the red tape to make it easier to start and run a small business here in New York and reform our system so that it works for Main St, not Wall Street. 

I'd point to the moves by the Legislature and Governor to reform SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) as an example that could help support housing, farmers, and small business owners.

I also plan to push and support existing legislation such as the New York Health Act to help address the shortfalls of our current healthcare system and deliver truly affordable and accessible healthcare to New Yorkers; the Hudson Valley Power Authority (and other proposals pointed at decreasing utility costs and curtailing reckless spending from utility companies); and the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants Act.

MARY FINNERAN

For timeliness, the ICE legislations are first that need to get moving, but hopefully those will be passed before I am in.

We need to get the NYHA (New York Health Act) passed this year as well, especially due to the weakening of the ACA (Affordable Care Act).  

The potential diminishment of the CLCPA (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act) has to be stopped and legislation needs to be enacted to strengthen/enforce it. 

I'd like to see the Kelles moratorium on sewage sludge passed, and one on data processing, and nuclear SMRs (Small Nodular Reactors) as well. 

Short term housing needs to be regulated due to the lack of affordable housing.  AND all tax-the-rich bills, only way to make needs affordable. 

But I can't/won't prioritize as all are critical. I likely missed some (plastics and bills that keep NY State taxes from supporting military weapons over education and public needs).

JANET TWEED

My biggest concern is affordability for working people, especially around healthcare, utilities and housing. If elected, I would co-sponsor the New York Health Act, which would abolish for-profit insurance companies.

The NYHA would replace them with a single-payer, statewide insurance that would provide medical, dental, optical, and long-term care, with no copays or deductibles for all New Yorkers. The efficiencies and cost savings created while ensuring all New Yorkers are on a path to good health are innumerable. 

Utilities: I support efforts by Congressman Josh Riley to rein in outrageous CEO pay and bonuses to the foreign owners of NYSEG – a company that is dramatically raising energy rates on all of us.

I support continued efforts to thoughtfully expand renewable energy infrastructure across the state (especially on built infrastructure like parking lots, atop buildings, and alongside highways) to put more energy supply into the market and drive down costs. 

I also support efforts to regulate building of new AI data centers – including a moratorium if necessary – to ensure that these facilities will not burden communities because of their high energy and water use.

I support Governor Hochul’s efforts to increase housing stock, especially affordable housing stock, across New York. As a member of the Delhi village board, I have been a vocal supporter of our efforts to revise zoning to enable greater density in the village, where many people want to live.  

2) “Why Are You the Right Person to Support in the Primary?”

THOMAS BOOMHOWER

I'm the right person to support because I can win this seat and Flip 102 Blue. My campaign has the resources, the organization, the strategy, and the message needed to win this race in November. 

Through our participation in New York States’ matching funds program we've unlocked over $100,000, we've consistently earned coverage in publications across the district through our media strategy, we've enjoyed great success on social media with a growing presence, all of which testify to just how much this message is resonating. 

Beyond that, Public Service is who I am. I've worked in both houses of the New York State Legislature, I served Greene County as the Economic Development Specialist, and I serve on the Village Board of Trustees in Catskill. I'm committed to radical accessibility and accountability to my constituents, and pledge to work tirelessly for you in the NYS Assembly. 

MARY FINNERAN

That's up to the people to decide, but I do think my life experiences are strong and I will fight, as I have been for years, for the Peoples’ needs over corporate profit/greed.

JANET TWEED

I am grateful to both Thomas Boomhower and Mary Finneran for stepping up to run for public office. It’s very difficult to put yourself out there for the public to criticize, and it takes a lot of courage. I will wholeheartedly support whoever emerges as the Democratic candidate after our primary. 

Having said that, I would not be in this race if I didn’t believe that I was the best candidate to win this race and to serve the people of the 102nd district in the New York State Assembly. 

I have spent over 20 years working in the medical field. If elected, I would be one of only a small number of elected officials who are also healthcare providers. That experience will be critical as we address the many problems we need to address to improve affordability and accessibility, not just in healthcare but in everyday life.

When I talk with patients about returning home after an accident, I don’t just talk with them about regaining the strength to walk up their stairs, I also hear about their concerns across the board: will my Medicaid be cut? Will senior Meals on Wheels still be able to deliver to me, after federal cuts to that program? Will I have broadband service available if I need to call 911 on a cellphone after a fall? 

I’ve also served in local municipal government for almost 10 years, first on the Delhi town board, and now on the Delhi village board. I am intimately acquainted with the struggles that municipalities face. I would co-sponsor legislation to allocate municipal funding for water and sewer in a structured, dedicated way, similar to how road funding is allocated. 

I can beat Marc Molinaro because I am not another typical career politician. I live and work in the community, I take the time to understand my neighbors' concerns, and I will work for them.