Democrat Mary Finneran announces her candidacy for Assembly District 102

CAIRO — The following statement was released by Mary Finneran, who is seeking a seat in the State Assembly.

As their chair, I’m proud that the Cairo Democratic Committee strongly supports my candidacy for the 102nd Assembly District’s seat, being left vacant by Assemblyman Chris Tague’s decision to run for state senate. 

I’m a lifelong upstate New Yorker, retired educator, artist, union member and organizer in social/economic and environmental/climate issues.  I’ve served on many boards and committees including 5 years on the Cairo Library Board, and 11 years on the executive committee of the Coxsackie-Athens Teachers Association, 6 of those years as an elected building rep. While a teacher at the Coxsackie-Athens CSD I also served as the K12 Art Department Chair.

I was elected to serve for 5 years on the executive board of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter (SCAC).  I currently serve on several  SCAC committees, my favorite being the legislative committee where I’ve become very well versed in the legislative process.  I'm chair of the environmental committee of the NY Progressive Action Network and am a dues paying member of the WFP and DSA.  

I will bring a fresh perspective to the New York State Legislature.  I will fight for issues pertinent to rural and Upstate New Yorkers.  As an assembly member some of my concerns will be food insecurity, inadequate health care services, and lack of affordable housing. I will work to strengthen our agricultural sector, road and highway infrastructure, and will advocate for those most in need. 

I’ve lobbied for years in Albany for the NY Health Act (Medicare for all), to protect funding for public libraries and  education, as well as for bills related to protecting the people from climate change, pollution, and toxins, such as pfas from sewage sludge spreading in our farm fields and elsewhere. 

I will bring a local voice to local issues including on renewables siting and eminent domain;  I believe this issue can be resolved while finding ways to satisfy the energy needs of all.  Joni Mitchell said “Pave paradise put in a parking lot” decades ago; I say “Take that parking lot, put in a solar field".

I’ve rallied and lobbied so often at the capital complex that it feels like a second home; I look forward to making it my work home when elected to the assembly.