As part of our coverage of the upcoming election, The Daily Star sent interview questions to candidates for contested offices, as well as key races where the sole candidate is running unopposed, in our coverage area of Otsego, Delaware, Schoharie and Chenango counties.
Below are the responses from candidates for Otsego County Board of Representatives in District 4 — Republican incumbent Michelle Catan and Democratic challenger Eamonn Hinchey. District 4 covers the town of Oneonta.
Why are you running for office?
I have been on the county board for the past four years and would like to continue to ensure those projects I have worked on continue and expand. I feel my business background and education give me an advantage in understanding the financial complexities within county government funding sectors. As a lifelong resident of the county, I hope my time in office is helpful for the economic growth and well-being of our county residents.
Describe your experience or qualifications for office.
My education and career have helped me gain experience and knowledge in all financial aspects of running a business, creating a budget, understanding financial resources and having a solid understanding of business management. I view my responsibility towards the county as being able to run a business, stay within budget yet being able to offer all the services that our residents want and deserve. I have a professional background in both business and as a banking professional, both help me to understand my fiduciary responsibility as a county board representative.
What do you believe are the challenges and opportunities facing Otsego County?
Challenges for the county include increasing utility and health care costs, state mandates that the state won’t fund but we are required to offer, market rate housing, and the mental health and homelessness issues in Oneonta.
Opportunities include economic growth from our local business sector: Bassett Hospital, SUNY Oneonta, Hartwick College, Cooperstown All Star Village, Dreams Park, NYCM, area financial institutions and many more. Tourism, entertainment, short term rentals and retail sales tax help fund the county and keep our real estate taxes at some of the lowest in the state.
Is there a particular issue that motivated you to run for county board?
A phone call from state Sen. Jim Seward. Sen. Seward gave over 35 years of his career supporting our county as an elected official. When he called me to run, I had no predetermined goal to run for the county board seat but after his words, support and encouragement, I ran in 2021.
What do you want to accomplish while in office?
Work with the Oneonta Town Board in applying for infrastructure funding to help expand water and sewer to our East End, complete the upgrades to the Woodland Water District with the state grant that was awarded this year and look for ways to improve Fortin Park and the town pool. Be the liaison between the county board and the Town Board on issues and projects to support the town.
Complete the first-year operational review of the county ambulance and Bassett Hospital transportation contract. Support America 250 commission in planning great events for the county.
Continue to support economic development for our county. This helps to create new jobs, supports small businesses, and brings in sales tax to our county. Offer and oversee the community events grant for 2026 and future microenterprise grants for small businesses.
Continue to support our law enforcement personnel, veterans, seniors and youth within the county.
Continue on the Opioid Settlement Task Force to earmark that opioid settlement funds are used as required in our county to help support those with addiction issues and educate the community on ways to assist those who need support.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for office to try and protect the integrity of Otsego County. My hope is to help make our county climate smart with careful planning and appreciation for our rural communities. There are so many threats to our way of life here. The loss of Medicaid could decimate our counties school-based health centers and almost eliminate telehealth services. Wealthy elites want to try and force eminent domain and spot zoning of our lands. My purpose really comes down to creating the conditions that allow families to remain here for future generations.
Describe your experience or qualifications for office.
As a public school teacher for 13 years, I quickly became acquainted with what life was like for families in our county’s rural communities. I am acutely aware of how connected the people who live here are to their lands and streams and pastures. However, I am also aware of the many struggles for families here as well. I served as a board member for the Otsego County Conservation Association, which did a great job of preparing me for the unique environmental concerns in Otsego County, and I currently serve as a proud member of the Board of Education for the Oneonta City School District.
What do you believe are the challenges and opportunities facing Otsego County?
While I know how many people rely on the income from tourism in our county and see its value, we also need to have a clear plan that helps us to determine natural stopping points. We must provide at least as much support for access to affordable housing as we do access to seasonal housing. Our health care network is increasingly under-serving our communities, and potential cuts to Medicaid could only turn the problem into a crisis, I believe health care is a human right. One of our greatest opportunities is to lean into the work done by our county planning department.
Is there a particular issue that motivated you to run for county board?
One of the reasons that I live here in Otsego County is for its natural beauty. I think to attract more residents to our region, and maintain the current ones, we need to spend more energy connecting our residents to the rivers, the hills, and the farms. I attended the unveiling of the new Susquehanna Basin Water Trail this spring and was so saddened with how few people showed up to support it. I believe that if we want to protect this county’s natural resources for the future generations we need a plan that prioritizes connecting every person to this land.
What do you want to accomplish while in office?
While in office, I hope to create a long term plan that comprehensively targets new places for housing, protects and supports prime agricultural lands for farming, and also rebuilds a county department for Parks and Recreation. This department was dissolved in the 1990s, and our county has suffered ever since. In order for our county to be prepared for the 21st century, we must be united in protecting what matters.