22nd Congressional District hopeful Kim Myers is making a push to become more well-known in the most populous part of the district that stretches from the eastern part of Oswego County, to the Mohawk Valley, to the Southern Tier.
Flanked by several local politicians and supporters in Utica Monday, Myers, who’s a county legislator from Broome County, at the other end of the sprawling 22nd District, promised to be very visible in the Mohawk Valley, if she’s elected to Congress.
"I’ll definitely have an office here, fully staffed, full-time, to meet the constituent's needs,” said Myers.
According to a recent Siena College/Time Warner Cable News poll, Myers, a Democrat, is running a close second in a three-person race. Republican State Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney led the poll with 35 percent, Myers had 30 percent, and third-party candidate Martin Babinec polled at 24 percent.
All are vying for the seat currently held by retiring Rep. Richard Hanna (R-Barneveld). One of Myers’ weaknesses identified in the poll, is a lack of name recognition among more than 40 percent of potential voters. She says she’s working hard to overcome that, especially in a part of the district that’s more than 100 miles from her home base.
“We're on commercials. I’ve been here all summer,” said Myers. “As a matter a fact, I moved up here for a period of time with my daughter, enrolled her in summer activities. Great experience. I’m here meeting as many people as possible. As I said we’re up on TV, and we’ll continue to do whatever we have to do to get people to know who I am, and to trust me.”
Meyers says the big issue facing voters in the Mohawk Valley is the same as what’s important to voters in the Southern Tier; creating jobs and protecting the jobs that are here.
"It's about jobs, and it’s about protecting the jobs you have, hopefully expanding the jobs you have, and attracting new jobs so you can keep the young people here,” she said.
