Cold Brook resident and Conservative Patrick Vincent announced his candidacy for the 118th Assembly District seat, which is currently held by Republican Marc Butler of Newport.

The 118th Assembly District includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Norfolk, Stockholm, Madrid, Parishville, Pierrepont, Clare, Colton, Clifton and Fine. It also includes Hamilton, Herkimer and Fulton counties plus part of Oneida County.

Vincent graduated from Poland and then served in the United States Navy. While in the Navy, the ship he was stationed on (The USS Puget Sound) earned the Expeditionary Medal during a peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. After leaving the Navy Vincent joined the NYS Department of Corrections later retiring in 2011 after 25 years of service.

“It has always been important to me to play an active role in my community, with politics being my greatest passion,” Vincent said in an email. “This led me to become a Trustee for the Village of Cold Brook in 1988. Following a two-year term, I was then elected as Mayor of Cold Brook in 1990. During my time as mayor, I helped implement $1.6 million of HUD work for the village. In 1992 I left my post as Mayor of Cold Brook to begin training and planning for a new business venture. I would however, remain as a Cold Brook Trustee from 1992-2000.”

In 1994 Vincent started Vincent’s Heating Service. Over a 10-year period, he says his small HVAC Company grew significantly, and in 2004 the company made a major transition.

“My wife Laurie became majority owner and President of Vincent’s Heating and Fuel LLC (WBE) while I took over as Vice President,” he said. “In 2014 Vincent’s received $1.3 million for our plan to relieve municipalities and small businesses of high oil prices and transition them to renewable wood pellet heating systems. As both a Mayor and a small business owner I have sought and received grants with a 100% success rate and well over $2 million received.”

“I see a new journey ahead for myself now as I pursue election into the NYS assembly. The actions of government should be to uplift businesses, not destroy them,” Vincent wrote in the email. We live in a state with many issues and obstacles such as high taxes, high insurance costs, and overreaching regulation.

“I believe that the United States Constitution should be protected and defended,” he said. “I am pro-life. I believe that social service spending is out of control. I support our troops, law enforcement, first responders, teachers, small business owners and farmers. These people are the backbone of our communities but need help and have been neglected for too long. I am a new conservative voice and I will work hard to earn your vote.”