Editor’s note: Democratic incumbent Addie Russell, a lawyer from Theresa, and Republican John Byrne, businessman from Cape Vincent, are battling a second time for the 116th state Assembly seat. In 2014, Russell received 14,667 votes, just 95 more than Byrne. The “River District” includes most northern St. Lawrence County communities, plus Canton, Potsdam and northern Jefferson County.

By CRAIG FREILICH

Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Jenne Russell says she believes using natural assets of the North Country and personal involvement by community leaders can generate more good jobs here.

The incumbent also says she supports the controversial SAFE Act and Start-Up New York programs.

“The first thing that’s important is that we build on what we already have here, the natural assets,” Russell says about her job-creation plans. “We are a prime location to expand value-added agriculture production as well as generate alternative energy, and with the colleges and universities we have we can be on the cutting edge of research and development of new products,” she says.

Alcoa is about to split into two companies, and the 116th “River” District incumbent says she is taking steps such as bringing representatives of one of the two companies to talk about the company’s future here.

“It’s working those business relationships. I have experience with many of these types of companies, particularly Alcoa, that’s already here, to be able to sit down and talk about these issues,” Russell says.

Believes In Herself

She says she has the knowledge and skill to “understand what they need to do to communicate to others and make sure that we make the linkages to help them become successful.”

“So it’s really a hands-on approach that I think also gives me the ability to help our businesses in ways that the rest of the delegation really aren’t able to do. And I would also extend that to my opponent,” she added.

“I’m a very positive and energetic person. I know the North Country inside and out,” says the Theresa resident. “My family has lived here forever, myself included. I have a lot of relationships, not just the couple of communities where I live but really throughout the region,” she said.

“I can meet with a CEO and really discuss what they’re doing and what their vision is and I can explain to them how the North Country can help them further,” she said.

She says that can work “when someone else sees that you are passionate about what they do and about the North Country. Then it really creates a synergy that reinvigorates and lifts people up. We all become part of the same team working to have their business successful and have the North Country be a success.”

Backs Start-Up NY

Changes in tax policy can improve the business climate and the outlook in a household, she says.

“I helped to pass the biggest middle class tax cut in history and our middle class tax rate is one of the lowest that they’ve been in ... I would go ahead and say generations,” she said.

“So I think it’s a balance of insuring that our average middle class and working class people are not overtaxed but also understanding how we can use larger tax policy such as when we recently helped cut the manufacturing tax to zero.”

She says she thinks those programs that provide tax breaks to new or expanding businesses, such as Start-Up NY, can pay off in new jobs.

“I don’t think that they’re a silver bullet. I don’t think we should be just wholesale giving out as many tax breaks as possible. Everything has to kind of be done understanding their impact on others,” she says.

“We have a program that I’ve been critical of because I think it needs to be revamped and that’s Start-UP NY. And that is a program that helps new businesses to the area by getting rid of their tax obligation and for their employees. So I do believe there are places for tax cuts and I have supported these types of tax cuts when they’re done very strategically and done in sectors where we know we can be competitive and that we know we can really move the dial,” Russell says.

“Sometimes those programs don’t perform as we would like and I’ve taken it on as part of my obligation to the residents of the North Country to hold those programs accountable, but they do have a place.”

Supports SAFE Act

She does not belong to the National Rifle Association, but “I am absolutely a supporter of the Second Amendment. I’ve grown up in a family where hunting and sporting activities are as common as going for a paddle along the river. First thing we plan to do after the election is go to the hunting camp my grandfather built. That’s our reward for working hard,” Russell says.

She supports the Secure Ammunition and Firearm Enhancement Act, or SAFE Act, which was passed in the state Legislature in 2013 in response to the Newtown, Conn. school massacre, but she does not believe it’s a flawless piece of legislation.

“I’ve been very open about my desire to make common sense amendments to the SAFE Act. Even before the SAFE Act passed it was obvious we were going to be making amendments to the SAFE Act,” Russell says.

Aid For Schools

Russell says she is always looking for more state aid for North Country schools.

“I was very insistent that our schools – our high-needs schools in particular – have the GEA (Gap Elimination Adjustment) removed as quickly as possible.” She also says she has worked to get extra funds under a court decision in favor of higher needs schools.

“Certain schools in this area need funding beyond what that formula provided. I have been able to secure that aid to the tune of $1 million for each of the last two years.”

As for Common Core, “high standards are a good thing,” Russell says, but that “the problem was with implementation” which sent the program into a tailspin.

She continues to be concerned that teachers might suffer if their evaluation criteria are not formalized. She said that testing is something she is working to delink from the teacher evaluation system, at least for the short term, “because I don’t think those things are appropriate. We’ve won some battles but we’ve got to win the war on that.” She also says adapting a curriculum is easier than it was at first.

Corruption A Hot Topic

Corruption in Albany remains a hot topic there and around the state.

Russell says she “would like to finally take steps to ban or significantly limit outside income for legislators.” That’s what entangled former Speaker Sheldon Silver, her boss in the Assembly. She publicly supported him until he was convicted in federal court.

“That was something that was really a personal betrayal, that he would engage in conduct that would get him convicted of a crime.”

“We should be holding ourselves to a much higher standard,” she says. “I think we should say from the get-go that our constituents are the only masters that we’re going to serve.”

“I’m a lawyer but I gave up my earning a living as a lawyer so I could serve my constituents. And that’s what others should do.”

“Trying to smear me with things other people have done is the only way my opponent has a shot. I know the North Country doesn’t care for that type of campaign. My opponent doesn’t have a record to stand on and people can see through that.”