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US Congress 19th District:

Congressman Gibson faces Sean Eldridge challenge

Dan Hust - Staff Writer
Posted 10/31/14

Gibson hopes to continue serving voters

SULLIVAN COUNTY — Chris Gibson, the incumbent Republican/Conservative/Independence representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, feels he's …

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US Congress 19th District:

Congressman Gibson faces Sean Eldridge challenge

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Gibson hopes to continue serving voters

SULLIVAN COUNTY — Chris Gibson, the incumbent Republican/Conservative/Independence representative for New York's 19th Congressional District, feels he's fulfilling a mission not that far removed from his days as an Army officer.

“This is a calling to serve, to bring people together, to get things done,” he told the Democrat.

Gibson has spent two of his four years in Congress as Sullivan County's representative, having been elected by voters to succeed retired Congressman Maurice Hinchey in the redrawn 19th District. Before that, he served two years in the 20th District, which once encompassed the region surrounding his Kinderhook home.

The district may have shifted, but in many ways, Gibson's local focus remains the same: agriculture, veterans issues, economic development.

Through his office in Liberty, Gibson has tackled constituents' concerns about the Farm Bill (which reauthorized the REAP Zone, which increases the county's chances at landing certain grants), the Veterans Administration (allowing vets to use local doctors more often), Lyme Disease and energy costs.

He's aided efforts involving the coming red meat plant and a veterans transitional home, both in Liberty. He's supported the work of SUNY Sullivan and the Center for Discovery, worked with Livingston Manor on its flood mitigation efforts, helped the Upper Delaware Council with improving Delaware River flow rates to improve tourism and the fishery, held a symposium to work on ways to bring in more broadband Internet service, and aided efforts to site a food hub in the county.

“Our office in Sullivan County is poised to expand,” he added, thanks to a Wounded Warrior fellowship that will increase the staff from one to two.

Known as a moderate Republican, Gibson has earned praise and gratitude from Republicans and Democrats.

“I've worked closely with people on both sides,” he explained.

Indeed, he's stayed well ahead of Democratic challenger Sean Eldridge in polls, despite being outspent three-to-one by his competitor.

Nevertheless, he was not endorsed by the New York Times, who chose Eldridge due to Gibson's positions on the Affordable Care Act, gay marriage and immigration.

And he's been criticized - including in TV commercials - for not taking a harder stance on fracking.

“These commercials are false,” responded Gibson. “I've always said I'd only support it if it's found to be safe, and the jury is still out on that.”

He said he's authored a bill requiring drilling companies to disclose the chemicals they use, but he added that fracking is a home-rule issue in New York State (meaning that individual municipalities, as opposed to the U.S. Congress or NYS Legislature, may be able to ban or allow fracking once the state finishes studies).

As for the Affordable Care Act, “it was going to hurt more people than it helped,” he argued.

Nevertheless, now that it's law, he said he wants to work with the rest of Congress “to actually lower costs” and fix what he says are the broken promises of Obamacare - while standing firmly behind the continuance of Social Security and Medicare.

He's not in favor of government weighing in on gay marriage, other than to allow civil unions.

“I support civil unions,” he affirmed, “but I think marriage should be left to religious institutions.”

That said, he also supports “equal protection under the law.”

“Look, the LGBT Republicans endorsed my campaign,” Gibson noted. “... And I support a bill that would end workplace discrimination.”

As for the thorny issue of immigration, Gibson said the Times “flatly got my position wrong.”

“We need to secure our borders ... and fix our broken system,” he said, adding that immigration in and of itself should not be feared. “Our nation of immigrants are making huge, positive differences in our nation every day.”

Sean Eldridge eager for voters to send him to DC

SULLIVAN COUNTY — Sean Eldridge has come to know Sullivan County.

Yes, he's spent time locally campaigning as the Democratic alternative to Republican Congressman Chris Gibson. Visiting seniors clubs, awards dinners and community gatherings has given him many glimpses into local life.

But before all that, he helped Prohibition Distillery get off the ground in Roscoe through his Hudson River Ventures, which invests in small businesses throughout the region.

He joined the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation Board in 2012, which includes a variety of Sullivan County businesspeople.

He's visited with major employers and those who support them, like the Center for Discovery and SUNY Sullivan.

“I've been very focused on jobs and economic growth,” Eldridge said. “... It's a beautiful area!”

A Shokan (Ulster County) resident, Eldridge voted for the amendment to permit casinos in Sullivan County and elsewhere, now advocating for those casinos (once chosen) to utilize local producers and businesses.

He also recently opened a campaign office in Monticello.

“I'd like to see us grow our strengths,” he says. “Most new jobs in Sullivan County and throughout the district come from small businesses that are growing.”

Indeed, he considers the number-one issue locally to be jobs and economic growth, and he aims to fight for that in Congress, starting with a “better approach to access to capital” from the federal government.

That fighting spirit has been with him since his birth and childhood in Ohio and into his move to New York, where he became a defining force in the effort to legalize same-sex marriage. He is married to Chris Hughes, co-founder of Facebook and current publisher/editor-in-chief of the New Republic magazine.

Their wealth and relatively recent move to Shokan from downstate Garrison (in an entirely different Congressional district) has led to accusations of carpetbagging and ambitions that don't include locals' best interests.

But Eldridge is unfazed by the criticism - and has some of his own for Gibson, whom he argues only pretends to be a moderate.

“I don't believe it's moderate to vote to defund Planned Parenthood,” he argued (Eldridge served on the local Planned Parenthood Board). “... I don't think it's moderate to sue President Obama as Chris Gibson and [House Speaker] John Boehner did a couple of months ago.”

Same goes for minimum wage.

“I'm an advocate for raising the minimum wage to $10.10, and Congressman Gibson opposes that,” he notes.

Billions of dollars in Congressional cuts to nutrition programs incensed him, too.

“There are a good number of folks who rely on our country's safety net [of social services],” he pointed out. “... I'm going to fight to protect that safety net.”

As a result, Eldridge has been endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

His stance against fracking has won him fans and foes, but he thinks it's in line with the majority of voters' wishes.

“Many people in Sullivan County have become activists on the issue, and I think the activism we've seen in Sullivan County and throughout New York State has really made a difference. I think it's why we have the moratorium we do have.”

He's against it because of concerns over water contamination, methane releases and potential earthquakes.

He feels there are other methods to spur the economy. In fact, he worries fracking could hurt more than help, with tourism, agriculture and property values possibly taking a hit.

With a high percentage of roads throughout the state already in desperate need of work, Eldridge is in favor of allocating funding to rebuilding highways, bridges and dams.

Broadband Internet is also key to the local economy, he added.

“I believe in universal access ... and would certainly fight for that,” he affirmed.

From climate change to immigration reform, Eldridge said he's eager to change what's come before.

“I think we've had the least productive Congress in the history of our country. I just think we have to do better,” he explained. “... I really believe we need new leadership if we want to get different results.”

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