Jim Powers Runs For

122nd Assembly Seat

Former Otsego County Board Chairman

Seeks To Succeed Retiring Cliff Crouch

By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com

SOUTH NEW BERLIN – Republican Jim Powers, former Otsego County Board of Representatives chairman, announced this morning he’s running for state Assembly in the 122nd District to succeed Cllifford W. Crouch, Bainbridge, who is retiring.  Both are  career farmers.

“I enjoy public service and being able to help people with their problems,” and to do so “without raising taxes,” said Powers, who served 18 years on the county board.  As his most satisfying accomplishments, he points to initiating the withdrawal from MOSA, which he characterized as paying for not generating trash, and the county’s current 911 emergency system.

The district includes the towns of Morris, Butternuts and Unadilla, and at least half of three other counties – Broome, Chenango and Delaware.  And Powers is expecting to face a crowded field – perhaps six other Republicans in the June 23 primary; that, he hopes will work in his favor.

Other people interested in the seat include Nick Libous of Binghamton, the former state senator’s son, and Victor Furman, also of Binghamton, who’s running with support of NaturalGasNow.  Joe Angelino, former Norwich police chief, has Crouch’s support, Powers said.

However, only Powers, he said, has experience holding elective office.

Powers was raised in Hinman Hollow and graduated from Milford Central School and Cornell, where he met his wife, Pamela, a veterinarian.  They bought their South New Berlin farm in 1985, and raised three children there.  In recent years, he also developed a 200-hive honey business, bottling under the Stand of Corn & Honey brand.  He has one grandchild, Oliver, now 3.

He encouraged voters interested in his candidacy to call him at 607-764-8358.

Otsego County is divided among four Assembly districts, and none is now represented by an in-county resident.

This year,  however, two Democrats, Dan Buttermann in Oneonta and Chad McEvoy, Westford, are again running against incumbent Republicans, respectively, John Salka of Brookfield in the 121st, which includes Oneonta and Cooperstown, and Brian Miller, New Hartford, in the 101st.