Two Wayne County residents are competing for the 130th Assembly seat that been held by the same person for nearly three decades.
Palmyra alpaca farmer Scott Comegys, a Democrat, is running against Lyons Town Supervisor Brian Manktelow, a Republican. The winner succeeds Republican Bob Oaks, R-Macedon, who is not seeking re-election. Oaks first was elected in 1992.
Each took issue with how tax money is used.
Comegys focused on education, where he said plenty of money is spent.
But he said money needs to be spent wisely, on programs to support students and to pay teachers. “We also need to look at our total education system. If we want a robust public education system, we have to look at that from early childhood through adulthood, making sure that people have the opportunities in later life if they’re going to change jobs, and these days people likely will be changing jobs, that they have access to knowledge that can build their skills so they can change jobs.”
Manktelow said residents are overtaxed, and they don’t have a loud enough voice in how their money is spent.
“We send our money down to Albany and they decide what services are important,” he said. “That money should stay here locally with our towns and counties, and let us decide what’s better. We know what we need. Just sending money down there and throwing dollars at every problem is not the answer.”
Manktelow continued on the tax theme by saying there is too much government.
“We are overregulated,” said Manktelow, who also owns a farm. “People cannot breathe. They need to have the opportunity to live.”
