POTSDAM -- The race for District 11 of the St. Lawrence County Legislature includes a political newcomer who brings more than a decade of teaching experience with her.
Democrat Amber Spinner has worked in education for 13 years, teaching grades Pre-K through 12, experience she says has changed her over the years.
Spinner said that experience would lend itself well to serving the county.
“Running a music department for any school involves working with multiple budgets, fundraising, making schedules, and organizing people,” she said.

Spinner said she was also the employee health consortium representative for her school for 11 years.
She said that experience taught her a great deal about healthcare in a rural district and the various needs of the populace.
“I worked with a large group of people to determine the best decisions for our health insurance that impacted hundreds of families. Working with a multi-million dollar fund balance, deciding health insurance premiums each year and going through COVID working with health insurance was a good precursor to the county legislature,” she said.
Taking an analytical approach to matters, Spinner said she has learned a great deal about how to assess data and apply it to solutions.
“It taught me to look at data, speak with members about concerns, and be creative to find solutions to real problems. Being involved with my local teachers union gave me the confidence to be a good leader. These experiences foreshadowed my involvement with politics,” she said.
Spinner said if elected she would communicate with “respect and the importance of being an advocate for all.”
“I will be a legislator who will ask the right questions, imagine new solutions and connect people together,” she said.
The loss of SNAP benefits is one matter Spinner hopes to tackle as well.
“This will not only hurt older people on a fixed income, but also children,” she said.
Spinner said it is a compounding problem as well, with healthcare a primary focus for her.
She said she would be committed to maintaining and improving quality healthcare throughout the county, while also supporting mental health services.
But in the case of many families, healthcare simply is not affordable as the cost of goods and services continues to increase.
“The challenges of affordability which in my mind would include gas, groceries, heating cost, childcare and eldercare. Environmentally, we are facing data centers and nuclear reactors. While at the same time local commerce and small businesses are struggling to keep up with the cost of everything,” Spinner said.
Spinner said her top priority, if elected, would be to find a solution to SNAP benefit cuts and finding more ways to support local food banks.
“We are at a time, sadly, when people are forced to make extremely difficult decisions. Food is number one. People can not function without food, people work better when they are well fed, and people can’t think clearly when they don’t know if or when their next meal will be. I am a huge supporter of the local Gardenshare program and local farmer’s markets,” she said.
Spinner said her platform has been molded by meeting numerous people throughout the county, noting that she has encountered a number of “very passionate people” who are serious about their jobs and their communities.
She said one person in particular was Andrea Montgomery with the Office of the Aging.
“Leading the office that helps so many people in our community with home delivered meals, home care services, family caregiver support, as well as many other services,” she said.
Spinner said she also believes the Youth Bureau and the department’s investment in youth has been a major success.
“As a teacher, of course I am impressed with the Youth Bureau and their commitment to local students. I enjoyed a wonderful presentation by their teen leaders at the county wide open house,” she said.
Spinner said she is also grateful to the Highway Department for their efforts to maintain 573 miles of county highways.
“Each day I am grateful for the reliable roads that I travel on. Living in the north country, our roads need to stay clear of snow and debris to stay safe,” she said.
Spinner said she hopes to continue to support those efforts but commented all efforts could be improved with better communication, which in turn would build trust between the public and county officials.
She said she would also seek to fill vacancies throughout county offices to ensure proper staffing that would reduce burnout.
“As I have travelled around St. Lawrence County on my campaign meeting many people, I am humbled. Connecting with people, listening to people, caring for people is politics. The experience to hear so many life stories, hear perspectives and learn from the community is a humbling place to be in. I am grateful for all the people who support me, who teach me, who encourage me to do more. Your voice matters! Use your voice and vote in November,” she said.