George Conklin III is a lifelong resident of Sullivan County who grew up around Long Eddy and North Branch. He is running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines to lead his legislative district forward.

Conklin says he knows most everybody in District 5, and it's evident by the number of passing cars he waves to while standing outside the Sullivan County Democrat offices in Callicoon.

Whether in his role as an EMT for 15 years, Supervisor in the town of Fremont for the past eight years, or a town councilman for eight years prior to that, Conklin's government and volunteer commitments span decades throughout the community.

“I'm a term limits guy,” Conklin said about leaving the post of Fremont Town Supervisor if elected as a legislator. “I thought I should move on and we'll see what happens.”

One of the major problems Conklin sees as town supervisor, and one he hopes to remedy if elected to the county legislature, is “a disconnect between the county and the towns.”

Since instituting the legislature after the Board of Supervisors, Conklin says he feels like the towns don't have the input that they once did. “Should I get to that position, I'll try to improve those relations,” he said.

Thinking as a taxpayer

Conklin approaches most issues as a fiscal conservative. He said he often stops to wonder about projects proposed by well meaning people that cost considerable money but that might not be needed.

“You have to think like a taxpayer and not like a tax spender,” Conklin said. “If I wouldn't spend that money myself then why would I spend your money?”

Conklin explained that he believes taxes should largely go toward maintaining roads and keeping our streets safe.

“Too often people have ‘feel good' ideas that they want the taxpayers to pay for. When you're driving around seeing potholes in the roads, kids overdosing on heroin and people getting robbed, I have a problem with any money that doesn't go to law enforcement or DPW (Division of Public Works).”

Conklin said that approximately 75 percent of the Town of Fremont's budget goes toward roads. While he recognizes the county has a broader role to play, he believes that should be one of the primary focuses of the legislature.

“When the roads are in good shape and the streets are safe, that takes care of tourism because people will want to come here and they'll be able to drive on the roads without damaging their vehicles. Everything else after that is peripheral to me,” Conklin said.

Yet he recognizes that its tough to focus on local problems when the legislature has to confront unfunded mandates from Albany “which New York State is handing down like candy. It's really tough, but something has to be done.”

Agriculture

In a district that has historically relied on agriculture, that way of life is increasingly threatened by the realities of modern trends in a 21st century economy.

“We're at a big tipping point now because the lands that were once maintained by farmers are no longer being utilized,” Conkin explained.

He said that in the Town of Fremont, which used to have between 20 and 25 small dairy operations, only one remains.

“The last crop a farmer sells is his property. It's a shame because people come here to see the beauty of pastures and rolling farm hills. Those folks trying to make a living off the land sometimes get held back by the same people who move here and don't necessarily want to hear a milk machine running or know about someone spreading manure and fertilizer on the crops.”

Conklin will admit that some of the agriculture jobs lost in Sullivan County might never be coming back, yet he's confident in the intrepid entrepreneurs who are forging a new trail for themselves and their families. “Some farms are starting to process their own cheese, homogenize their own milk and make other specialty products. Times are changing and there are people who are finding these niche markets for themselves.”

Always mindful of the bottom line, Conklin is skeptical that government spending can reverse national and global trends, such as the falling prices of milk.

“Sometimes things are trends and this is definitely a trend.”

It's not all bad though, and some trends have been beneficial to the local community. “If you go out and walk up and down Main Street in Callicoon, you can look out from the porch of the new Callicoon Brewery and see there's no where to park! It's great to see people spending money! Things change,” Conklin said.

Airbnbs

Conklin will admit that it's difficult trying to strike a balance between greater development and protecting the bucolic beauty that attracts development to Sullivan County in the first place.

“Slow and steady growth is important,” Conklin said. “There's a big push right now about regulating Airbnbs. My experience, is that it brings people here. Yes, their transient visitors, but they're respectful and they like the area. Maybe they'll buy a home here or maybe they'll come back and spend money.

By and large, he thinks it's a good thing for the area and a unique way to attract tourists and visitors towards the western end of the county.

“I'm not a big government regulation guy. If there's a problem we have to address it, but I think it's working well. Throughout the county we have Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the Casino, the Monticello Motor Club … it's all part of a synergy that works off of itself. But you have the growing problems like everything else. The traffic has gotten really bad the last few years.”

Sales Tax Revenues

Conklin is in favor of the county sharing sales tax revenues with the towns.

“As a town supervisor I believe that to be of importance,” Conklin said. “The towns helped generate the sales tax and should share in the benefits of it.”

Conklin believes that the towns are the most effective form of local government. Being able to spend that money as they see fit would, in his view, be positive no matter how much it amounted to.

The county maintains there's little sales tax left to share after paying for unfunded state mandates. Conklin says he sees their point and cites the proposal from Town of Callicoon Supervisor Tom Bose and former Town of Liberty Supervisor Charlie Barbuti came up with to only share a percentage of sales tax above a certain threshold.

“It was taking nothing out of the county budget, all it was doing was sharing additional sales tax revenues. If they dipped below that level then the towns would get nothing,” Conklin said.

He felt it was unfortunate that such a discussion was not continued, citing it as another example of a disconnect between the towns and the county.

“We're supposed to be in this together,” Conklin said. “The town of Fremont's budget is $1.5 million … If a town as small as mine got $10,000 or $15,000 it'd be a huge boom.”