Otsego County Board Candidates Address Food Insecurity: In Their Own Words
By LUCAS BERG
SUNY Institute for Local News
ONEONTA
Nearly 13 percent of Otsego County residents–roughly 8,000 people–are food insecure, according to recent data from the Community Foundation of Otsego County. Food insecurity, as defined by the nonprofit food bank network Feeding America, is “when people don’t have enough to eat and don’t know where their next meal will come from.” An estimated 48 million Americans, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity every year.
Millions more people in the U.S. who do not meet the official definition of food insecure turn to local charitable organizations like food pantries for support. For instance, the Community Cupboard of Edmeston served 14,000 unique individuals last year alone, indicating that there are even more Otsego County families bordering on food insecurity. As inflation increases and federal programs continue to be cut, the number of local residents experiencing food insecurity or food scarcity is projected to rise.
Seeing as this is a major topic of concern for local citizens, AllOtsego chose to ask candidates for the Otsego County Board of Representatives about where they stand on the topic of food insecurity. We asked them each to respond to the prompt: “Describe three achievable actions you would take to help reduce the number of food insecure residents in the county.”
AllOtsego reached out originally to all candidates running opposed for the Otsego County Board of Representatives in the November 3 general election. These are the responses received by press time. All responses were received in writing; those statements are reproduced here verbatim, only lightly edited for length, grammar and clarity. Comments from some board members running unopposed are also included.
DISTRICT 1 – UNADILLA
EDWIN FRAZIER JR. (REP): Inflation has caused expenses across the board to increase seemingly exponentially. Much of these issues are not in our local officials’ control. We have many programs to help defend against some of the negative effects (SNAP, food banks, weekend backpack programs, and free lunches in schools). With the recent cuts by the federal and state governments, we at the county are limited in how we may increase support for those that may need it.
Donating funds or time to our local and regional food banks may be one of the best opportunities that we may have to help our neighbors that may need some assistance.
One of the best ways to fight food insecurity is to provide good paying jobs to those that live here in Otsego County. All of the board members work on that issue constantly. We attempt to put policies in place that help the current employers in the county, as well as strive to attract new business and development that may do the same.
Edwin Frazier Jr. is the incumbent District 1 candidate and running unopposed. He is currently the board chair.
DISTRICT 2 – BUTTERNUTS, MORRIS, PITTSFIELD
JASON M. CIANCIOTTO (DEM, FFO): Every family deserves the opportunity to build – and keep – a good life in Otsego County. Access to affordable and nutritious food is critical to that opportunity. I would focus on three actions:
First, partnerships between the county Department of Social Services (DSS) and community-based organizations should ensure that eligible residents are enrolled in and maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. No one should go hungry because of paperwork or red tape.
Second, for residents who can travel, I would ensure coordination between county transportation services and grocery shopping and food pantry hours. I would also explore whether mobile food pantries and grocery delivery service partnerships can help residents who cannot travel.
Third, we need to ensure that our wonderful food pantries and providers can serve more people through funding for increased refrigeration needs, food deliveries, and produce and milk from our local farmers. I have extensive career experience advocating for state and local budgets, grants, and other philanthropic support to increase resources for food and other critical services.
JAMES P. POWERS (REP, CON): The county transportation system should be reassessed. Would it be possible to use the county transportation system to deliver food? Would a traveling food pantry be possible?
Could the FreshConnect Checks Program administered by New York State be expanded? The FreshConnect program supplies booklets of $2.00 coupons to be used at farmers markets and some farm stands. They are used for the purchase of fresh local produce. It is a program I participate in, mostly through sweet corn sales. Could it be expanded to other locally-produced products, such as meat? Is there a situation where local inspected facilities that are non-USDA could be used? The price for processing would be cut in half. Currently there is a venison program that allows for just that. A hunter can donate the meat from a field-dressed deer and have it processed without USDA inspection.
Could the county use part of its newly acquired former dairy farm for community gardens?
Are these achievable actions? Perhaps not. But the achievable action the county will take is to pay $800,000.00 for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), commonly known as “food stamps.” The federal government has decreased their contribution from 50 percent to 25 percent. New York state counties pay the remaining 75 percent.
James P. Powers is the incumbent District 2 candidate.
DISTRICT 6 – DECATUR, MARYLAND, WESTFORD, WORCESTER
JOANNE TOBEY (DEM): Make information about state and local resources more available – on the website, in county offices, shared with town clerks. Not everyone is aware of what help is available, including, at the most basic level, food pantry locations and hours of operation. We also have organizations here that recognize the need and are doing what they can – for example, the voucher program for the Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, food access for some patients at Bassett [Medical Center], et cetera. We should be communicating about these opportunities and seeking other ways to collaborate.
Investigate the potential for expanding locations for the mobile food pantry and for coordinating with food pantries to have some goods available in county spaces. As with so many issues facing our residents, transportation is a barrier. And if we can provide food access where people are, that could help.
Long term, the county needs to make economic development a priority. It’s our responsibility to innovate and to lead in this area. When we have a strong, broad-based economy, fewer working residents will be living in poverty and require support from food pantries.
Thomas Snyder (REP, CON), also running in District 6, did not respond before publication.
DISTRICT 7 – CHERRY VALLEY, MIDDLEFIELD, ROSEBOOM
LESLIE BERLIANT (DEM, WOR): It’s important to recognize that the increases we are seeing in food insecurity are due to federal policy, federal funding cuts, tariffs, the war in Iran, and other foreign and domestic policy decisions that have created a crisis in affordability of everyday goods including food and fuel, right alongside the rising costs in healthcare and housing. The challenges created at the federal level are impossible to solve at the county level, but there are actions we can take.
For one, I have been advocating with the state to ease restrictions on public transportation funding that would better suit our rural communities and provide reliable, affordable transportation in Otsego County through on-demand bus services. One of the causes of food insecurity is the lack of access to affordable, fresh food. Improving public transportation increases access to grocery stores and farmers markets, as well as food pantries, so that people are able to reach the places where they can get the most for their dollars and their benefits.
The county can also help provide information and access to the organizations providing food assistance at warming centers, temporary housing locations, during wellness checks, at the senior center, and in the county jail, all of which are on the front lines for those most in need.
We can also continue to strengthen our partnerships with organizations that are directly addressing food insecurity, including partnerships such as Cornell Cooperative Extension’s “Grow a Row” program to provide fresh produce to food pantries.
I will also continue to advocate for passage of the New York Health Act, which would reduce healthcare costs for the vast majority of New Yorkers, our municipalities, and the county, to free up income that is currently going to enrich health insurance companies and not to healthcare and the needs that keep people healthy, including food.
Leslie Berliant is the incumbent District 7 candidate. James McCartney (REP, CON), also running in District 7, did not respond before publication.
DISTRICT 8 – OTSEGO
ANDREW MARIETTA (DEM, FUS): Otsego County government takes the same approach in addressing any community need, which are service delivery, partnerships and advocacy. It would be these three actions that I, as a county representative, need to build upon to respond to the growing number of people facing food insecurity in Otsego County.
In the specific case of food insecurity, Otsego County government facilitates the federal program SNAP and provides referral information about other food support assistance available in Otsego County. Although the county has no control over the federal criteria set for SNAP – which recently changed, resulting in hundreds of county residents losing their benefits – we in county government can advocate against the destructive legislation, H.R. 1, that made this happen. Our county Board of Representatives should also be calling for our federal government to take legislative action to provide more food resources to our county.
The county also provides meals to qualifying Otsego County residents who are 60 or older. Building on these direct meals being offered, the county should explore ways of offering more meals and encouraging more older residents to take advantage of them. In our role of county government, we need to figure out how best to maximize our services to help those facing food insecurity.
Otsego County has a number of partners it relies on to provide different kinds of assistance on behalf of county government. As a county representative, my colleagues and I need to expand on these partnerships and work with our nonprofit community providers to expand food resources available to our county residents.
In summary, to try to combat the growing issue of food insecurity in Otsego County, we in county government need to coordinate our actions by leveraging the limited services Otsego County government provides, increasing our county partnerships, and advocating for legislation and increased resources from our federal government.
Andrew Marietta is the incumbent District 8 candidate. William Day (REP) did not respond before publication.
DISTRICT 11 – CITY OF ONEONTA, WARDS 1 & 2 (DEM)
CLARK OLIVER: (Ensuring county residents have access to basic necessities is a core function of the Board of Representatives.
The county’s public information apparatus needs to be modernized to ensure information about county services is readily available to folks in need. As a board representative, I will work with department heads and my fellow board reps to better utilize social media and proactive outreach to in-need communities to get folks connected to the services they need.
I will work with department heads to facilitate new connections and strengthen existing ones with community-based programs. Strengthened collaboration between the public and nonprofit sectors creates stronger and more frequent pathways for connections to needed services.
Finally, I will be a vocal advocate for our community members struggling to make ends meet as we all grapple with higher costs. I will analyze all budgetary and policy-making initiatives through a lens of compassion and empathy to ensure no resident of Otsego County falls through the cracks. Now, more than ever, we all have to do our part to support one another. That is a responsibility I will not take lightly as a board representative.
Clark Oliver is running unopposed for District 11.
DISTRICT 13 – CITY OF ONEONTA, WARDS 5 & 6
MICHELE CLAPPERTON (DEM): I believe no one in Otsego County should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Food insecurity affects working families, senior citizens, veterans and people who are simply struggling to make ends meet.
First, I would work to bring together our local food pantries, charitable organizations, farmers and county agencies to coordinate the resources we already have. By working together instead of independently, we can identify gaps in services, reduce duplication and make sure food gets to those who need it.
Second, I would advocate for improved access to food assistance, particularly in our rural communities where transportation can be a significant barrier.
Third, I would support efforts to connect residents with existing programs such as SNAP, senior nutrition programs, WIC and other available assistance. Too often, people who qualify for help either don’t know it’s available or struggle with the application process.
My goal would be to make better use of the resources we already have while ensuring that no resident falls through the cracks
ARTHUR RORICK (REP, OFI): As the District 13 representative, I would focus on practical steps the county can take with local partners. First, I would work with food providers and county departments to identify gaps, such as limited pantry hours, transportation, or difficulty finding assistance. Second, I would advocate for county support and grant opportunities to strengthen existing pantries, meal programs, and food delivery. Third, I would encourage partnerships with farms, grocers, and institutions to recover and distribute safe surplus food. These efforts would build on services already available and help more residents access nutritious food.
Michele Clapperton is the incumbent District 13 candidate.
DISTRICT 14 – CITY OF ONEONTA, WARDS 7 & 8
JILL BASILE (DEM): Food insecurity is a policy issue, not simply a charitable one. My priorities would be to advocate against federal cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs that will hurt our residents and shift costs onto local taxpayers. And to strengthen county partnerships with food pantries and community organizations to ensure resources reach those who need them.
Jill Basile is the incumbent District 14 candidate and running unopposed.
This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Lab, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.
This article was updated on 11/1/2026 to include Clark Oliver’s response. We apologize for the oversight.
