After pulling out of the race for the 62nd District State Senate seat on August 13, 24-year old Gia Arnold announced Friday, August 22, that she is back in.
Arnold said she has received an outpouring of support which led her to reconsider her decision to leave the race after admitting to an extra-marital affair.
“When I made my announcement (August 13), I never fathomed the hundreds of texts, calls and emails that I received, almost all of which called for me to stay in this race and fight for truth, honesty and what is right for our Senate district,” Arnold said in a statement.
Arnold is from Holley, but said she moved to the Lockport area after the break-up with her husband.
Arnold is challenging North Tonawanda Mayor Robert Ortt – the endorsed Republican candidate, in a GOP primary September 9.
She is supportive of gun ownership rights and opposes the SAFE Act as well as Common Core.
In July, Arnold told the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald (SN/HCH) her candidacy offers a choice to residents of the 62nd District, which covers the towns of Sweden and Ogden in Monroe County as well as all of Orleans and Niagara counties.
“I think residents of Orleans and Monroe counties realize big city politicians have not served them well,” Arnold said.
She noted she worries about corruption and, “.. the lack of transparency and accountability elected officials have,” and added that elected office is, “… about sacrifice and service, not about a career.”
Her campaign is targeting high taxes and energy costs, the SAFE Act, the poor New York State business climate, Common Core/failing education, career politicians and restrictions on personal freedoms.
“I have a sure-fire plan to eliminate our struggle in Niagara, Orleans and Monroe Counties,” Arnold said. “We need to cut spending costs, remove unfunded mandates, and restore power to our local communities, where ‘We the People’ are making the decisions of where and how our money is spent. This plan will lower taxes, lower energy costs, and provide a more business friendly climate while making sure that New Yorkers stay afloat.”
She has received the Orleans County Conservative, the TEA Party and the Libertarian Party endorsements. Ortt is the Independence Party and Conservative Party candidate in addition to being endorsed by the GOP.
Ortt told the SN/HCH during a phone interview that as mayor of North Tonawanda, he is “very much aware of the impact the state government has on local municipalities.”
He says the SAFE Act is a “huge issue,” calling it a bad law which infringes on people’s Constitutional rights. He says the SAFE Act, “has never had legitimacy,” because of the questionable way in it was passed.
“I take the oath to protect and defend the Constitution seriously,” Ortt said.
The state needs to work to create a “more friendly business climate,” Ortt explained, regarding the state’s economy. “I understand small downtowns – that small businesses are not Wall St., they are Main St.”
Ortt is a veteran who fought in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and says he believes New York State is broken and he a proven leader who can work to fix it.
If elected, Ortt said he would work in Albany “with whomever I can to make sure priorities and values of upstate are taken into account.”
Ortt said he would also work with local towns, boards and mayors to help them at the state level to find solutions to the challenges they face on the local level.
Ortt said he was in Brockport and Spencerport recently and met with government and business leaders including Jo Matela, president of the Greater Brockport Development Corporation, and Ogden Supervisor Gay Lenhard. He said he also met with officials at the Seymour Library to discuss how the state can help libraries.
He encourages registered Republicans to go to the polls on Primary Day – September 9. “It’s important for Republicans to come out and vote,” Ortt said. “It’s a show of strength and a show of support for the Republican Party and for Republican values.”
Nineteen year incumbent George Maziarz filed nominating petitions indicating his intention to run for re-election for the 62nd District State Senate seat, but pulled out of the race in July. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan is investigating allegations of improper use of campaign funds and members of Maziarz’s staff have been subpoenaed.
