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Joe Gray opens campaign for second term as Massena Town Supervisor

Posted 8/21/13

MASSENA -- Massena Town Supervisor Joe Gray announced today he will seek the Republican Party nomination to run for a second term. First elected in 2009, Gray said his first term has been …

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Joe Gray opens campaign for second term as Massena Town Supervisor

Posted

MASSENA -- Massena Town Supervisor Joe Gray announced today he will seek the Republican Party nomination to run for a second term.

First elected in 2009, Gray said his first term has been “challenging, frustrating at times, but still enjoyable.”

“These are trying times in local government," Gray said in an email news release Wednesday.

"Too many politicians in Albany and Washington spend their time in office bickering with the other party and promoting personal agendas. As a result, more and more demands are placed on local governments,” Gray said.

“Sadly, no money comes along with these mandates," Gray said. "State pension costs are out of control, some public employees feel they are entitled to more than what workers in the private sector receive, and local officials juggle the public’s demand for services with the continual complaint that taxes are too high.”

Gray said the Town of Massena is poised to deal with some important and complex topics, such as the 10-year review of the New York Power Authority’s license, Mohawk land claims, improving the local economy, and promoting what Massena has to offer.

Gray said a significant recent development for Massena and other St. Lawrence River communities has been FISHCAP.

“I think we stumbled on something significant with FISHCAP. We have amazing natural resources that many of us have taken for granted all these years. When I held a meeting back in 2010 to talk about fishing, I was shocked that over 40 people showed up on a stormy February evening. Some of them travelled two hours to attend. Eventually that effort evolved into FISHCAP,” Gray said, pointing to the success of the recent Bassmaster Elite tournament as an example of what an organized effort can bring to sport fishing and the local economy.

“But we can’t stop there. We have to work harder to find different ways to grow our economy. We need to get more inventive to create jobs. We must find companies who can come to Massena to use our low-cost electricity and manufacture products with Alcoa’s aluminum,” he said.

Listening to the public is important, Gray said, and he will be communicating in traditional ways and through a campaign website and Facebook page.

“I want to know what people think of some of my ideas and the work I’ve done so far. I want to hear their ideas and plans for our future. My door and ears are always open. Even if people don’t agree with me or like what I do, I still want to hear from them. The most important thing is we all keep Massena’s best interests at heart,” he said.