To the Editor:

Representatives in Congress take an oath of office, swearing or affirming that they “will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic…”

Representatives swear to “bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

Holding on to a “big lie” regarding the results of a prior election is not supporting or defending the Constitution. Similarly, supporting those who do not plan to participate in a peaceful transfer of power is incompatible with an oath of “allegiance” to the U.S. Constitution. 

Defending those who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 by calling them "hostages" is also incompatible with an oath of “allegiance”. And a candidate who seeks to pardon those who beat our officers in blue at the Capitol that day has no business claiming to “back the blue.”

January 6, 2021 was the same day that a crowd set up a noose and viciously chanted for the sitting Vice President to be hung. A U.S. Representative cannot serve with “true faith and allegiance” without being willing to rebuke that behavior. 

A person can not truthfully swear to the oath to serve as U.S. Representative while actively supporting someone who has been found guilty of 34 felonies for lying and covering up certain payments in an attempt to throw the results of the election that was held 4 short years ago. 

At the very least, you wouldn’t want your Representative to cheer for the guy who calls veterans “suckers and losers”, or who seeks to grab women inappropriately. At least – I wouldn’t want my daughter, my sister, or my friend grabbed that way or even talked about that way. Would you? 

New York’s 21st Congressional District needs a Representative who upholds the U.S. Constitution. 

NY-21 also needs a climate change policy.

NY-21 needs a border policy. 

Healthcare.

Housing.

A bill to prevent price gouging. 

Tax breaks – not for corporations, but for ordinary income earners. 

Protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Veterans benefits. 

We have had the same representative in Congress since 2015, and her speeches of late say very little about the needs of New York 21. 

The people of NY-21 need a Congressional Representative who shows up and allows for unscripted dialogue, question-and-answer, and free exchange of opinion. 

It is time for a change in New York’s 21st Congressional District. 

I am asking for your vote so that New York 21 can have a representative who can take the oath of office without reservation or conflict of interest, who can work to bring on issues that matter to the people, and who is available at public events with proper notice advertised in advance of an appearance. 

Remember: our current Representative could have introduced a bill in Congress to address the crisis at our Northern border. And as Republican Conference Leader, she could have gathered the support from colleagues to get the bill passed. She did not. She kept the border crisis alive during the campaign season. 

My current opponent has based her campaign activities out of state in Charlottesville, Virginia. She has a few local offices, including one in Potsdam. But the “hub” of her campaign headquarters, which could have created North Country jobs and internships for young people interested in politics, is not even located in New York State! 

New York’s North Country voters need better representation. 

I am asking for your vote in 2024. Early Voting continues on November 1, 2, and 3 from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Election Day Voting is on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, from 6:00am to 9:00pm. 

Paula Collins

Candidate for Congress, NY-21