To the Editor:

As a candidate for District 7 Legislator I want people to know where I stand on just a few of the issues.

The goal is to work with the Board of Legislator to keep increasing the fund balance so we do not have to borrow money. We can accomplish this by continuing to watch our expenses and looking at the bigger picture throughout the county.

Another goal is to fight with the state, DEC, and whoever else we need to so we can get the UTV’s approved for use on our trails and to get our trails connected in a way that we can bring people from out of the area for day trips as well as overnight.

This will increase the money we see in the economy which in return will help keep our taxes low. We have a beautiful and resourceful area. Why not market it as such?

The SAFE Act has come up in several conversations that I have had with locals. We cannot let our governor take away this or any other of our Constitutional rights. This is something the board needs to fight for and not stop fighting for.

Something else that is big for our district is Agriculture. I grew up on a small hobby farm. Nothing big but the impact was installed on me at an early age. There are resources available to build our agriculture and the new agri-technology is out there to create year round opportunities that were not there before.

I want the people of my District to know that I am fully accessible and that they have a voice with me. I will do everything in my power to not only fight for the District and our wants and needs but the County as well.

From the healthcare and drug problems to building on our agricultural base to clean energy sources to helping our youth and families get the proper education and tools they need to live and work in the area. It is about retaining those people we have, creating jobs, and marketing the area properly for tourism growth.

All of these things will increase our economy and help our future in St. Lawrence County. I will not stop until we win and let downstate know we are up here and we matter!

Please come out to vote on September 13th in the Primary Election. Even if it is not for me it is important that you let our elected officials know you have a voice and you want it heard. By voting for the candidate you want you are telling them to listen.

I look forward to helping build a bright future for our families, friends, and neighbors.

Erica Leonard

Parishville