North Country This week

MADRID – St. Lawrence County legislature candidate Kaitlin Tyndall, D-Madrid, says she’s running for the county board so her children can have the same opportunities she did. She is challenging county legislature chair Kevin Acres, R-Madrid.

“I returned home after being away for 3 years at college and I realized that so much had changed.  All the problems that existed before I left had only become worse. More people were unemployed, or developed addictions.  More businesses had closed. More small farms had gone under. More of the people my age and younger had moved away,” she said in an emailed response to questions from North Country This Week.

“My fiancé and I became engaged and I started thinking about what the county might look like in ten years. In thinking about that, I felt the need to step up. I wasn't doing my part by simply complaining about the issues. I want my daughters to enjoy everything St. Lawrence County has to offer like I did growing up here; like being able to ride their bikes with their friends without constant worry. I’m running to make sure that they get the same opportunities as I did.”

Tyndall says St Lawrence County needs to provide help to those battling with addiction and bring better paying jobs to the area.

“We have a drug problem in our county. Too many people have fallen into the grasp of heroin, methamphetamine and prescription pills including opioids. We need to show more compassion as a community when tackling this problem because these are our neighbors, friends and, in some cases, family members,” she said.

“We also simply don’t have enough good paying jobs.  The agencies and Chambers of Commerce are doing what they can and I thank them for it but they need additional help so that they can be even more effective.”

Tyndall says the county needs to better scrutinize its finances and invest funds into attracting tourists to the area.

“We need to improve our treatment options and the county needs to improve the way it bills the state for services.  Millions of dollars have been lost over the past four years because county leadership was complacent toward billing,” she said.

“With that said, the Board also needs to invest more in tourism promotion and economic development.  If we had the lost revenue that I just mentioned, this wouldn’t even be an issue. Instead of cutting agency budgets, the Board needs to reinstate its Economic Development Committee to collaborate with partner agencies and find ways to do more with more.”

According to Tyndall, what separates her from her opponent is not as important as her vision for the county, which she hopes to discuss in person with her potential constituents.

“I don’t know my opponent and he doesn’t know me.  It would therefore be unfair to label or brand him based on what others have told me and the same holds true in reverse.  I want people in my district to vote for me because of who I am and where I believe county government should focus. That has nothing to do with an opponent.  I’ll be out knocking on their doors for five more weeks and I will be happy to show people that in person,” she said.

Tyndall believes as a county legislator, she can help the county deal with the ongoing drug crisis and help local businesses succeed.

“Having grown up here, I have seen the impact that the drug epidemic has had on people over the course of my entire life. Unfortunately, we all know people who are no longer with us. This is the most important issue facing our county and my own district,” she said.

“Madrid has many wonderful businesses that continue to draw in people. I have worked at Main Street Market in town for 5 years. I have had numerous people walk in for a visit because they hadn't seen the store since they were children.  I will work to make sure our existing businesses and any future ones have the tools and infrastructure necessary to succeed.”