GLENS FALLS — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Chele Farley wants to engineer solutions to Washington’s dysfunctional government.
Farley got a master’s degree in engineering to take after her father, who is a rocket scientist. After college, she spent 25 years in the financial services industry. After serving as the finance chairwoman for the New York City Republican Party and later the statewide chairwoman, people asked her to challenge U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.
At first, she said no. She did not think it was a good idea. Her husband, who is a Democrat, encouraged her to run, because she is always complaining about the state of politics.
“You’re always comparing about the dysfunction in Washington — two government shutdowns — here’s your opportunity to do something,” she said of what her husband told her during a meeting Wednesday with The Post-Star editorial board.
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Farley’s campaign slogan is “Put New York First.” She said she is concerned that New York is the number one donor state because it sends $48 billion more to Washington, D.C. than it receives back in aid.
Some of that money could be used to rebuild New York’s crumbling infrastructure, according to Farley.
“You can build roads, bridges and dams that will actually create jobs,” she said.
She said some of this money also could be used toward creating internet and cellular infrastructure.
Farley also believes that New York is being left out of the economic prosperity that other states are experiencing. She credited Trump’s policies with for reducing the nation’s unemployment rate is 3.9 percent, but in New York it is 4.6 percent.
“It you take New York City out of that, it’s 4.9 percent,” she said.
When traveling around the state for her GOP position, she talked to so many people who said their children no longer live in the state because of the lack of jobs.
The federal tax reform plan capped the federal deduction for state and local property taxes at $10,000. Farley said Gillibrand should have been out lobbying against this provision, or at least, pushing to reduce its impact.
The incumbent is not focused on her current job, according to Farley.
“I think Kirsten Gillibrand has left New York and is focused so much on running for president,” she said.
Farley criticized Gillibrand for a lack of accomplishments, saying she has passed one bill in her 11 years in office as a representative and later as a senator.
“That was to rename a post office,” Farley said.
Farley said if elected, she would be the “squeaky wheel.”
Farley has proposed creating a tax deduction for renters as well. She said it is the only way that young people are going to save for a down payment on a house or pay off their student loans.
When asked about the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental regulations, she said she would have to see the specific regulations and make a decision on a case-by-case basis.
“I want clean water. I want clean air. We need those things,” she said. “There has to be balance where we make sure it’s not economically unfeasible to do these things.”
She asked what if an environmental regulation would put the largest employer in town out of business.
Another issue she wants to focus on is special education. As the parent of a 16-year-old autistic child, she said there is too much red tape in the state, which is preventing people from asking for the services for their children.
“People are just throwing up their hands and not getting the help and support that exists,” he said.
Farley said she supported the Trump administration strategy of placing tariffs on certain goods to negotiate better trade deals.
On the subject of health care, Farley said the Affordable Care Act needs to be tweaked. She is concerned that young people in their 20s are not purchasing insurance because it is too expensive and the deductibles are so high. She would like the ability for them to purchase catastrophic plans. She supports the re-importation of less expensive drugs from Canada.
Farley said she believes that the Russians attempted to interfere in the 2016 presidential election and will continue those efforts in the mid-terms. However, she does not believe it had any impact on changing the vote and did not think voters would be persuaded by false information online.
“I have great confidence in the American people,” she said.
When asked about President Donald Trump’s false and misleading comments, Farley said she is focused on whether the president’s policies are good for New York.
“When you talk to voters and citizens, they’re focused on jobs and education. What’s happening with the Mueller investigation, doesn’t affect their lives,” she said.
“Enough with the name calling. I just want to get the job done,” she added.
Michael Goot covers politics, the city of Glens Falls, the town and village of Lake George and other northern Warren County communities. Reach him at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog at http://poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/.