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District 5 race: Louis Setren

Matt Shortall - Editor
Posted 10/17/19

When Legislator Terri Ward announced earlier this year that she would not be seeking reelection in November, it opened up the field for a newcomer in Sullivan County's Legislative District 5.

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District 5 race: Louis Setren

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When Legislator Terri Ward announced earlier this year that she would not be seeking reelection in November, it opened up the field for a newcomer in Sullivan County's Legislative District 5.

It's a large district that includes the towns of Fremont, Delaware, Callicoon and part of the Town of Liberty.

Being on the western end of the county, district five residents have relied on agriculture to sustain families for generations. These days, the future is uncertain as family farms continue to struggle and a lack of electronic and digital infrastructure make it harder to compete in a 21st century economy.

The two candidates who have stepped up to lead District 5 toward a brighter future are Louis Setren and George Conklin III.

Louis J. Setren is running for legislative district 5 on the Democratic and Rural Heritage party lines. A lifelong native of Sullivan County, Setren has more than two decades of experience working in the County's Probation Department.

“My entire career I've been a strong advocate for victim's rights, as well as rehabilitating offenders,” Setren said. “With a little guidance, whether its job training or recovery from an alcohol or substance abuse, our goal was to help folks return to being law abiding and productive members of the community.”

Setren has seen the local effects of the opioid epidemic firsthand, saying it caused an exponential increase in the number of people he saw as a probation supervisor.

He commended the county's alternatives to incarceration and pre-trial release programs as having helped some people find employment opportunities and having kept the jail population at a manageable number.

Setren started out as a trainee assigned to the investigations unit, writing pre-sentence reports for every local court from the municipal to the county level. For a time he oversaw the restitution unit of the probation office.

“Having seen the homes and families of offenders, having been a victim's advocate and having had close interaction with the District Attorney's staff, law enforcement agencies and treatment providers, I feel that I've gained a real insight into the circumstances of folks who live in Sullivan County,” Setren said.

One of the most rewarding things about his work has been seeing someone who passed through his office who was able to turn their life around.

Agriculture

Born in 1960 during the height of the resort hotels and bungalow retreats, Setren has been witness to all the changes since then.

“When the resort industry dried up we saw tremendous unemployment and reduction of our tax base. I'm thrilled to see the Villa Roma remain a wonderful and viable facility. For those of us in the Western end of the county, besides the Villa Roma and river trips, the big resorts didn't do much for us. Consequently we've relied on agriculture and smaller tourism venues.”

In fact, one reason Setren decided to run is because his family is involved in a small farming operation.

He explained how his wife's family has been on Dutch Hill Road outside of Roscoe since approximately 1870.

“When I heard that one of our neighbors down the hill from us in Callicoon Center has lost their contract with Marcus Dairy, I thought that the legislature could have done more to assist those farmers who had lost their contracts.”

He cited the ongoing efforts to build a creamery in Sullivan County and the Food Hub in Liberty as a good start.

“Agriculture is still very important, not just to district 5, but all over Sullivan County. The pressure on local farmers by large, industrialized farming institutions - coupled with weather concerns as well as seed and fuel prices - is a heavy burden. I'm hoping that the tradition of family farming can remain intact here in Sullivan County.”

Setren says a healthy agriculture community also benefits tourism.

“Maintaining our family farms with rolling hills and crops is a draw for people coming up from the metropolitan area.”

Yet Setren acknowledges that agriculture is not enough. He cited the county's efforts to attract light industrial parks to the Route 17/I-86 Corridor as a good way to create jobs and tax revenue while staying true to our roots.

“Anyone who has lived here for a certain amount of time and even recent arrivals know that we cannot survive solely on tourism or agriculture. We have to have stable and sustainable growth. I believe that includes light-industrial applications.”

Union Activist

Setren considers himself a life-long friend of the unions.

His candidacy has been endorsed by the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation/Catskill Labor Council, as well as the Sullivan County Sheriff Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, Teamsters Local 445, and CSEA (representing SC Jail Correctional Officers)

He remembers growing up how his father, Dave Setren, was a Shop Steward and a longtime member of the Union Local 17, working on projects all over the Hudson Valley, including construction projects such as Route 17, Sullivan County Community College, Sullivan County International Airport and Community General Hospital (now Catskill Regional Medical Center.)

“He worked on union construction projects which allowed my older brother, sister and I to enjoy a lower middle class upbringing. My parents often did without things to make sure that their kids didn't have to.”

Setren said his father touched a lot of hearts and minds throughout his career in Sullivan County and much of what he knows today he learned from him.

Setren said part of what inspired him to run for legislator was a commitment to continue building Sullivan County like his father once did.

During his career with the county, Setren was eventually elected Business Agent for Teamsters local 445.

“I have long believed in standing up for folks who may not be willing or necessarily able to speak up for themselves,” Setren said.

Tourism and sales tax

There has been some citicism of the currently proposed visitors center on Route 17 corridor, which is largely funded by room tax revenue. Setren said he hopes the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association can focus greater effort on attracting people to the Western side of the county.

“My belief is it [Route 17 Corridor] seems to be the prime location because it is the most highly trafficked area. That's not to say that we shouldn't have satellite locations in other areas of the county, including here along the Delaware Corridor,” Setren said.

Setren favors sharing casino sales tax revenue with the other townships, citing the plan proposed by former Town of Liberty Supervisor, Charlie Barbuti, to only share sales tax revenues with the townships above a certain level “That seemed reasonable and like a win-win to me,” Setren said.

Wireless and Broadband

Setren says infrastructure improvements must be a priority, not only in terms of roads and bridges but electronic and digital infrastructure as well.

“It's impossible to compete in a 21st century economy with 20th century technology,” Setren said. “It's hit and miss service in District 5 for a lot of people and I hope that will change. The county utilizing 911 towers is a good step forward.”

‘Unique set of skills'

Although endorsed by Sullivan County Democratic Party and the Rural Heritage Part, Setren believes his campaign transcends party lines.

“I don't believe that party politics should enter into the decision making process for the legislature. I may disagree with someone, but we can find areas of common belief to move forward and make progress.”

Setren believes his experience at the county level, whether it be in the budget process, state aid applications, contract negotiations, or work on social issues sets his candidacy apart.

“I think it's a unique set of skills that would enable me, in some respects, to hit the ground running if elected.”

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