Gene Benson is looking to regain his seat on the legislature for District 7, which covers parts of Fallsburg, including the Village of Woodridge.

Benson grew up working on his grandparent's farm in Glen Wild before going to college with the hopes of becoming a social studies teacher.

He said he never was able to finish college as he had to return home to take care of his ill father.

His mother, who was a part of the Democratic Committee for Fallsburg for many years, encouraged him to get a job with the Town of Fallsburg after spending most of his nights tending bar.

He started working with the town in January, 1981 and worked with the Town of Fallsburg's Water and Waste Water Department for 35 years until he retired.

He started his political career when he became a Democratic Committee member and later a delegate in the early 1980s.

In 2011, he decided to run for legislator after going to the Sullivan County Government Center to run an errand and encountered a union protest that was happening in front of the building.

Being a “union guy” for 28 of the 35 years in the Town of Fallsburg as a Union President for CSEA, Benson felt he could make a difference.

“It was time for somebody, who's labor-friendly to get into a management position and work with the workforce,” said Benson. “I have always been interested in politics.”

When asked what were some of his accomplishments during his time as legislator Benson said, “I don't like to take credit for anything because I believe that it's a group effort when you're on a board like that. It's amazing what can be accomplished when you don't care who gets credit for it.”

Benson said the legislature he was a part of started to work on the new public transportation system.

“We did a couple of studies,” said Benson. “Luckily, they [current legislators] picked up the ball, and it continued. I like to see them do a little bit better of a job on it.”

Benson said he has the support of the CSEA Union and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation.

With his experience working as union president and with the Water Department, he feels he has the pulse of the people.

“I was out on the road all the time, and I met a lot of people,” said Benson.

On sales tax revenue sharing, Benson said during his last year on the board, he was able to meet with a lot of town supervisors and highway superintendents and was working on a revenue sharing program.

He said it would have allowed for the sales tax revenue to be shared after it reached a certain amount.

Unfortunately, Benson said it never got off the ground because it was an election year.

“I would like to see it shared. I understand that we are investing back in the county, but not all of the roads are county roads. I think it's only fair,” said Benson.

If elected, he would like to help the smaller businesses.

“They have kept the economy and Sullivan County going all of these years by the skin of their teeth,” said Benson. “Instead of giving money to these huge corporations, I would like to see them share the wealth.”

In his district, he would like to see more businesses stay open during the winter and be sustainable. “Not only in my district but all over the county,” said Benson.

When Benson is out in public, he says people have encouraged him to run. “I had a lot of people say ‘we wish you were back, you were always available, you always talk to us,'” said Benson.

Benson said since he is retired, he has the time to make his position full-time.

Benson said in the past, he always made it a point to make every meeting.

“I never missed one, even if I wasn't on a committee. I would always go. Because you have to know what is going on and look at the big picture,” said Benson.

“Perrello is an outsider,” said Benson, “I am from here, and I grew up here. I remember what it was like in the past, I want to see Sullivan County get better.”

Coming from a working family that was pro-union, Benson said those types of families are the heart of the community.

“The people who work and struggle every day - they deserve somebody who's going to listen to them and do what needs to be done,” said Benson.

Benson is a Fire Commissioner in the Village of Woodridge and is also the Treasurer of the Sullivan County Soil and Water Conservation Board. He is the Legislative representative for the New York State Fish and Wildlife Board for Sullivan County.

“The people deserve a choice, whether they vote for me, or they vote for my opponent [Perrello]. I'm not running against him; I am running for a position. People have the choice as to who they want in that position,” said Benson. “I hope they think I'll do a better job,”