NORWICH – Sunday afternoon, residents across Chenango County traveled to the Canasawacta Country Club to meet with their Democratic representatives from the state and national level for the party’s second annual summer picnic.
Despite the occasional rain showers, around 200 people attended the outdoor luncheon hosted by the Chenango County committee from 1 to 5 p.m. Attendees purchased $40 single or $70 couple tickets for the fundraiser.
Chenango Democratic Committee Chairman Patrick McNeil said he hopes to make the annual event a local Democratic party tradition.
Picnic-goers were given the opportunity to converse one on one with United States Representative Michael Arcuri of the 24th Congressional District, Lt. Governor candidate and the current City of Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy and New York Attorney General Candidate, current Nassau County District Attorney, Kathleen Rice and candidate for the 52nd State Senatorial seat, John Orzel.
There were also a number of local Democratic leaders at the event including James J. McNeil, City of Norwich Supervisor for Wards 1,2 and 3 and Town of Smyrna Supervisor James Bays.
The crowd enjoyed a live DJ, an open bar and lunch buffet.
“We wanted to invite area members to come and casually converse with local county, state and national Democratic leaders while having a good time and supporting the party,” said Patrick McNeil. “We want people to meet their candidates so they can make informed decisions as a voter. The laid back atmosphere provides people a chance to really sit back and get a feel for what the candidates support.”
At last year’s event, candidates were inundated with questions regarding healthcare legislation – but Sunday residents were keen to ask about the stifling national economy and New York State’s fiscal predicament.
“People are just so tired of the political rhetoric,” said Arcuri.
Arcuri said he was taking on his own party in attempting to assign the federal bid for the next generation of fighter jets , a battle that could impact some Norwich avionics companies such as Unison, depending on which competitor gets the contract.
“Three hundred jobs might not be a big deal in some places like Miami, but 300 jobs are a huge deal in Norwich,” he said.
Arcuri has also answered the call of environmental concern when it comes to gas well development through the controversial method of hydrofracking – a process of extracting natural gas through the use of industrial chemicals and million of gallons of water.
“As global warming and other factors continue to tax our uncontaminated natural resources, we have to be prepared to protect one of our most valuable resources in New York, fresh water. Here, it just comes right up out of the ground, but in a lot of places it is getting more and more difficult to find clean water. I understand there is great economic potential in gas development, but we need to step back and make sure things are being done the right way now so we don’t have to pay for them in the future,” said Arcuri.