We sit down with the candidates running for New York Assembly District 130. The district includes all of Wayne County and the town of Webster in Monroe County.
We talk with Democrat James Schuler and Republican Brian Manktelow* about their platforms and priorities for the district. They also answer our questions and yours.
Our guests*:
- James Schuler, candidate for New York State Assembly, District 130
- Brian Manktelow, candidate for New York State Assembly, District 130
Key issues raised by Schuler during "Connections" appearance:
- Schuler said he's running because he wants a seat at the table in Albany to help bring change to the district. He said Wayne County in particular has been suffering, and while he sees other regions getting assistance, he hasn't seen that type of help come in locally.
- He said he would want to help small towns and micro-businesses "receive what they need so they can provide for our community." He said there are communities in the district that are food deserts, where grocery stores have closed. When asked if Albany can change that, he said: "Well, we can put forth ideas that help. We can come up with funding that can help."
- On the district's economic health, Schuler agreed with Manktelow that the farmers markets there are doing very well but added that they're not long-term: "In the wintertime, there are no farmers markets." He also said that when jobs are created, there aren't enough places for those workers to shop: "One of my main focuses is going to be on the micro businesses ... we need to help those people grow to become small businesses, so that they can help fuel the economy and help their families and others in the community."
- On abortion, Schuler said he doesn't think the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is necessary, noting that from his understanding, abortions happen "way before it's even to that point where we have a living, breathing, conceivable and sustainable child." He also said "it's the right of the parents" to have an abortion.
- Regarding public safety, Schuler said he's served time behind bars for a drug-related conviction, and he didn't see any services in county jails. In the state prison system, he said there are services, but asked: "Do we need to send people to prison in order to get the help they need?"
Key issues raised by Manktelow during "Connections" appearance:
- Manktelow said there are many different priorities to address, including taking care of senior citizens and people with disabilities and "looking at our young people throughout the schools." He also said with a rising cost of living in New York state, people are concerned about whether they can afford to keep living here. Another priority he mentioned was "all the different taxes we pay, especially school taxes."
- He said mental health concerns are "the biggest struggle we see across the district, across the state."
- When asked if his opponent's statement that the district "is not at the table" in Albany is fair, Manktelow said, "Absolutely not." He listed as examples the work done in Albany that helps low-income people get fresh produce at local farmers markets; Downtown Revitalization Initiative awards that have funded projects in the district; and more funding for infrastructure along state roads.
- On the district's economic health, Manktelow said, "One of the huge things that we did accomplish is Fairlife milk coming to Webster," referring to the dairy processing facility being built in the town. He also said they're in the process of getting the vacant Xerox buildings filled and working to ensure that local food growers "put their product in New York state." He also said farmers markets are "doing an outstanding job."
- Manktelow was asked about a bill he has sponsored called the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which essentially directs health care practitioners present when a baby is born alive during an abortion procedure to render the same kind of care to preserve its life and health as they would to any other child born at the same gestational age, and ensure that the child is immediately taken to and admitted to a hospital afterward.
- While Manktelow said he is "very pro-life," he also said he thinks that "government should stay out of abortion." Instead, he said, we need to provide more short- and long-term support for pregnant people, "whether they choose to keep the baby or not."
- Regarding public safety, Manktelow argued that bail reform and laws taking away judges' rights to make some decisions is having an effect. "When someone does a crime," he said, "and they're automatically released two hours later, they can do it again. But when they were in jail for a while, we were able to get them help."
*Notes: Candidates are listed in the order that they appear on the Monroe County Board of Elections candidate list.
You can read more about this race and others you'll see on your ballot in the WXXI Local Elections Guide.
