JANET HURLEY QUACKENBUSH
COUNTY BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES, DISTRICT 4
COMMUNITY OF RESIDENCE: West Oneonta
EDUCATION: Oneonta Senior High School; B.A., Speech and Communications SUNY Oneonta
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Small Business Owner and Employer; former Girl Scout Executive; former Not-For-Profit Director
POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT: 13 Years Town of Oneonta Board; current County Board Representative
FAMILY: Husband Mark Quackenbush, daughters Drue Freshman at SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry College, and Bryn, freshman at Oneonta Senior High School
IN TWO OR THREE SENTENCES, EXPLAIN YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF GOVERNMENT.
Thomas Jefferson said that government should be “wise and frugal, restrain men from injuring one another, and should not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.”
As a nation founded on principles of liberty and freedom, government should protect citizens, provide for a public infrastructure, maximize economic opportunity, and provide public services people cannot do for themselves. Politics should not get in the way of progress. Tax dollars should be used for serious public purpose.
WHAT ARE THE THREE MAJOR ISSUES THE OTSEGO COUNTY BOARD OF REPRESENTATIVES FACES, AND HOW WOULD YOU ADDRESS THEM?
I believe there are two main issues.
- Economic growth – Partnering with the IDA on big projects and promoting small business growth by utilizing state programs to spur growth and investment. We need to make the ‘one stop’ economic development process a reality in the next term and invest in strategies that exploit our
strengths. - Taxes and budget – No one is sitting at home hoping their county taxes will rise and wishing they could hand more to county government. We must hold to the tax levy cap, manage effectively, eliminate waste, and assign goals to county departments to meet budget targets. Budget management should be a year round exercise in monitoring spending and developing long term budget strategies. Stronger partnerships and communication with our state representatives to avoid additional state mandates.
WHAT QUALITIES/EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE THAT MAKES YOU THE BETTER CHOICE IN THIS RACE
I was born, raised and educated in Oneonta. That with my 13 years of service to the town board, my direct experience as your current county board representative, a longtime business owner, employer and being a mom- I bring the most experience to the table to best represent our residents.
IS THERE A STATEMENT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH VOTERS?
As I’ve sat on my neighbor’s porches, I’ve found the shared denominator through our town families is that they aren’t talking about mandates, administrators, or what processes we’re using for economic development. They are trying to figure out how they can pay their property and school taxes, help their children with their common core worksheets and how they can possibly afford to send their children to college all while trying to meet their monthly bills. I know. I am a small business owner, a taxpayer, a wife and mom who knows why it’s important to stretch our dollars. Families in the town want a county government that is smart, sensible, delivers services without waste, and is accountable. Those have been my goals and my record as your county rep for the last two years, and with your vote, I will rise above politics and continue to work for you on the challenges that lay ahead.
