I am writing on behalf of an incumbent candidate who does not represent my county legislative district. I am, however, concerned with the legislative board as a whole, having lived here my entire 71 years.

I have known Chad Colbert for nearly 40 of those years. He is a man of integrity. He is honest, smart, humble, and a man of few words. When he does speak it is with intelligence and power.

You won't see Chad at every event going on in the area. He is a busy man. He has an MBA in finance from Wake Forest University. He is a certified financial planner and accountant, and has his own private firm. He is an adjunct professor at Clarkson University. He gives a great deal as a dad and as a foster dad, works with youth in Boy Scouts and with the young men's program at church. Importantly, he also serves on various county legislative committees.

Chad Colbert has, as does every legislator, a responsibility to all the people of St. Lawrence County, that he takes very seriously. One of the most important of those responsibilities is the fiscal one. Negotiations with union representatives for county contracts is a part of that process.

I am concerned, as are others with whom I have spoken, that should a candidate who is publicly endorsed and supported (financially) by unions, be elected, that legislator is then beholden to those same unions during negotiations deciding how our tax dollars will be spent. Unions have representatives during these negotiations. It is my opinion that county legislators should be totally unbiased and be concerned with all county residents, not just union members.

There should be no conflict of interest. Quid pro quo comes to mind- giving something with the expectation of getting something in return. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours is the old North Country adage. Chad Colbert neither seeks nor accepts union endorsements nor support and will consider the concerns of all during negotiations.

Promises are easy to make. Results speak louder than ambiguous promises. I suggest that voters look at the results of the work done by this Republican controlled legislature. County taxes are down for the 5th year since 2015, there is an $11,000,000 fund balance. That's million folks, and this is the first year since 2011 that no money will need to be borrowed by the county to meet its obligations.

These fiscal improvements will no doubt bring a small business and employment rebound to the county. Improvements take time and county residents have much to be grateful for as our current legislature has overcome a financial disaster left by the former Democrat administration.

Chad Colbert has been a standard bearer in the financial overhaul of our great county. I would therefore urge the voters of the 11th Legislative District to vote for a man of ideas, a man willing to put in the time, a man who will not make empty promises. That man is Chad Colbert.

Meribeth Richael

Hopkinton