All nine legislators will be up for re-election in November. As challengers announce their decision to run in the respective districts, the Democrat will be running briefs about them. More in-depth articles will take place as we get closer to Election Day.

TOWN OF FREMONT –– In July 2020, when the County announced that it was going to begin the process of selling the Care Center at Sunset Lake, the fuse leading to Fremont resident Cat Scott’s desire to be involved in local politics was lit.

Scott and several members of the public protested moving forward with a sale. Ultimately, the County transferred ownership of the Care Center to the Sunset Lake Local Development Corporation, and the property wasn’t sold. Instead, a consulting agreement is in place between the County and Infinite Care, who is running the facility.

“I was expecting a fair process,” she said, “and I was surprised to find that it was anything but.”

Scott, whose mother resides at the Care Center, continued to attend legislative meetings and didn’t like what she saw.

She’s been critical of the terms of the County’s lease with Hatzolah Air, the way the County chose to use American Rescue Plan funds, and what she believes is a lack of investment in mental health and addiction services.

Scott, a Democrat and graduate of Delaware Valley,  has spent the majority of her life in Sullivan County and currently resides in the Town of Fremont, which is also where her opponent, District 5 Legislator and Republican George Conklin lives.

When she isn’t attending legislative meetings, Scott works as a Customer Support/Billing Manager for Delaware River Solar. She’s also the president of the Friends of the Western Sullivan Public Library, vice president of the Family Council at the Care Center at Sunset Lake (advocating for families and residents), as well as a former president of the Jeffersonville JEMS. 

In the past, she has assisted with the Delaware Youth Center’s River Run, as well as helping support Rocky’s Refuge and Happy Kitty, Inc. with their animal-related causes.

While there were many factors motivating her to enter the fray, Scott said she has been dismayed with the “lack of civility during public meetings” of the County Legislature.

“My goal would be to return civil discourse and civic process to our county government,” she said. “These special meetings and emergency meetings that are happening are not in the people’s best interest. We need transparency. We all need to obey the rules, so the rules matter.”