2023 Delaware County Business Advocacy Resource Guide

The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce believes that thriving communities begin with prosperous businesses. By taking action in key areas–advocate, connect, and grow– we are a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities.

ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES TO BUILD AND GROW BUSINESS

Effective advocacy is founded on accurate and substantiated information. We remain a locus for facts and primary resources on issues important to business owners.
Our priorities include:

Engage Elected Officials. We will maintain our strong personal relationships with federal and state officials.
Center for Reliable Information. Provide resources and contacts to members seeking assistance with municipal officials.
Unified Voice of Business. We continue to seek opportunities for input from businesses on public policy issues.
Public Transportation. The Chamber will continue partnering with human service agencies, healthcare, transportation providers, government agencies, transportation consultants, and others to recommend public transportation options in the county.

TIPS for Communicating with Elected Officials

Be brief. A legislator’s time is limited. So is yours.

Be appreciative. Acknowledge previous support and current action.

Be specific. Get to the issue. Don’t be general.

Be informative and factual. Give reasons and provide supporting materials. Propose a solution to the problem.

Be courteous and polite. Treat them as you would want to be treated. Ask for a specific action without being demanding or threatening.

Be reasonable. Remember, it’s fine to have a difference of opinion.

Be realistic. Issues may need to be resolved through compromise.

Be understanding. Put yourself in the legislator’s position and try to understand his/her concerns and goals.

Be knowledgeable and evaluate issues. The introduction of a legislative bill or a resolution does not mean that it will become law. Don’t get too excited about it until you’ve learned the who, what, and why of any legislation.
Ways to Communicate to Your Elected Officials

LETTERS
Letters are still the primary means to communicate with public officials. Letters represent voters, are read, and elicit responses. Letters can be informal or formal, typewritten or handwritten.

OFFICE VISITS
Call in advance to set up an appointment and explain the nature of your visit. Do your homework and make sure you understand the official’s position on a particular issue. You may consider inviting other people with similar concerns. Don’t be bashful about inviting the official to your place of business. Elected officials rely heavily on their staff for guidance, information, research, and more, so it is important to get to know their staff. NOTE: Many offices remain closed or with limited access due to COVID-19. If visiting an office, be courteous and wear a mask.

TELEPHONE CALLS
Always be concise, and discuss only one issue per telephone call. If the issue is in regard to a particular bill, provide the bill number and state your position. Explain how the bill impacts your business and why you support or oppose it. Remember, when calling state or federal officials, you will likely be speaking with aides or other staff.

EMAIL
Depending on the legislator, email can be an effective way to communicate when issues are time sensitive and the need for action is critical. Keep your message short and to one screen, so the official does not need to scroll through the text. Always provide complete contact information in your email, including mailing address, phone number, and email address. Email communication respects everyone’s time and is often the most convenient and effective way to connect with federal and state officials.

2023 Delaware County Regional Legislative Directory

FEDERAL OFFICIALS

U.S. SENATOR
KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND
Lisa Hofflich, Hudson Valley Regional Director
Hudson Valley Regional Office: P.O. Box 749 | Yonkers, NY 10710
Tel. (845) 875-4585 | Fax (845) 875-9099
www.Gillibrand.Senate.gov

U.S. SENATOR
CHARLES SCHUMER
Amanda Spellicy, Regional Representative
Regional Office: 15 Henry Street, Room. 100 A-F
Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone: (607) 772-6792 | Fax: (607) 772-8124
www.Schumer.Senate.gov

CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE | 19th District
MARCUS MOLINARO
District Office:
49 Court Street, Suite 210 | Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone: (607) 242-0200
www.molinaro.house.gov

Regional Offices:

Sullivan County
59 North Main Street
Liberty, NY 12754

Delaware County
661 West Main Street
Hancock, NY 13783

Otsego County
41 South Main Street
Oneonta, NY 13820

NEW YORK STATE OFFICIALS

GOVERNOR
KATHY HOCHUL
State Capitol | Albany, NY 12224
Phone: (518) 474-8390
www.Governor.NY.gov

ATTORNEY GENERAL
LETITIA JAMES
State Capitol | Albany, NY 12224
Phone: 1-800-771-7755
www.AG.NY.gov

COMPTROLLER
THOMAS P. DINAPOLI
110 State Street | Albany, NY 12236
Phone: (518) 474-4044
www.OSC.State.NY.us

STATE SENATOR | 51st Senate District | includes all of Delaware County
PETER OBERACKER
Legislative Office Building, Room 506 | Albany, NY 12247
Phone: 518-455-3131
41 South Main Street | Oneonta, NY 13820
Phone: (607) 432-5524
Oberacker@NYSenate.gov | www.NYSenate.gov/senators/Peter-Oberacker

ASSEMBLY MEMBER | 121st Assembly District| Colchester, Deposit, Hancock, Masonville, Sidney, Tompkins, Walton
JOE ANGELINO
Legislative Office Building, Room 549 | Albany, NY 12248
Phone: 518-455-5741
1 Kattelville Road, Suite 1 | Binghamton, NY 13901
Phone:607-648-6080 | Fax: 607-648-6089
angelinoj@nyassembly.gov | www.NYAssembly.gov/mem/Joe-Angelino

ASSEMBLY MEMBER | 102nd Assembly District | Bovina, Davenport, Delhi, Harpersfield, Kortright, Middletown, Roxbury, Stamford
CHRIS TAGUE
Legislative Office Building, Room 937 | Albany, NY 12248
Phone: 518-455-5363 | Fax: 518-455-5856
113 Park Place, Suite 6 | Schoharie, NY 12157
Phone: 518-295-7250
45 Five Mile Woods Road, Suite 3 | Catskill, NY 12414
Phone: 518-943-1371
Fax: 518-943-0223
TagueC@NYAssembly.gov | www.NYAssembly.gov/mem/Chris-Tague

DELAWARE COUNTY OFFICIALS

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

TINA MOLE’
CHAIRMAN | TOWN OF BOVINA
1866 County Highway 6 | Bovina Center, NY 13740
Phone: (607) 832-4302 | Fax: 607-832-4666
www.bovinany.org

MARK TUTHILL
VICE-CHAIRMAN | TOWN OF DELHI
5 Elm Street | Delhi, NY 13753
Phone: (607) 746-3737
townclerk@TownofDelhi.org
www.TownofDelhi.com

ART MERRILL
BUDGET DIRECTOR | TOWN OF COLCHESTER
PO Box 321 | 72 Tannery Road | Downsville, NY 13755
Phone: (607) 363-7169 | Fax: (607) 363-7164
www.TownofColchesterNY.com

WAYLAND ‘BUD’ GLADSTONE
TOWN OF ANDES
PO Box 125 | 115 Delaware Avenue |Andes NY 13731
Phone: (845)676-4791 | Fax: (845)676-3776
andessupervisor@gmail.com
www.TownofAndes.com

DENNIS VALENTE
TOWN OF DAVENPORT
11790 State Hwy 23 | Davenport Center, NY 13751
Phone: (607) 278-6909
denvale@yahoo.com
www.DavenportNY.com

TOM AXTELL
TOWN OF DEPOSIT
3 Elm Street | Deposit, NY 13754
Phone: (607) 467-2433 | Fax: (607) 467-1414
Tndeps65@tds.net

JEFF TAGGART
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
12480 County Highway 21 | Franklin, NY 13775
Phone: (607) 230-0900
townclerkfranklin@gmail.com
www.Town-of-Franklin-NY.org

WAYNE MARSHFIELD
TOWN OF HAMDEN
20 Covert Hollow Road | Hamden, NY 13782
Phone: (607) 746-6660
www.hamdenny.com

JERRY VERNOLD
TOWN OF HANCOCK
661 West Main Street | Hancock, NY 13783
Phone: (607) 637-3651 | Fax: (607) 637-4617
thetown@hancock.net
www.hancockny.org

LISA DRISCOLL
TOWN OF HARPERSFIELD
25399 State Hwy 23 | Harpersfield, NY 13786
Phone: (607) 652-5060
tohclerk@gmail.com

GEORGE HAYNES
TOWN OF KORTRIGHT
51702 State Highway 10| PO Box 6 | Bloomville, NY 13739
Phone: (607) 538-9313
KortrightClerk@hotmail.com

BETTY SCOTT
TOWN OF MASONVILLE
1890 State Route 206 | PO Box 313 | Masonville, NY 13804
Phone: (607) 265-4010
bls629@gmail.com
www.Masonville-NY.us

JAMES ELLIS
TOWN OF MEREDITH
4247 Turnpike Road | PO Box 116 | Meridale, NY 13806
Phone: (607) 746-2431 | (607) 746-8544 (fax)
tomclerk@delhi.net
www.townofmeredith.com

CARL PATRICK DAVIS
TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN
42339 State Highway 28 | PO Box 577 |Margaretville, NY 12455
Phone: (845) 586-4566 | Fax: (845) 586-1775
middsuper@catskill.net
www.MiddletownDelawareCountyNY.org

ALLEN HINKLEY
TOWN OF ROXBURY
53690 State Highway 30 | PO Box 189 |Roxbury, NY 12474
Phone: (607) 326-7641| Fax: (607) 326-7641
townsupervisor@roxburyny.com
www.RoxburyNY.com

ERIC WILSON
TOWN OF SIDNEY
Civic Center | 21 Liberty Street | Sidney, NY 13838
Phone: (607) 561-2334 | Fax: (607) 561-2335
townboard@TownofSidney.com
www.TownofSidney.com

JOHN KOSIER
TOWN OF STAMFORD
101 Maple Avenue | PO Box M | Hobart, NY 13788
Phone: (607) 538-9421 | Fax: (607) 538-9841
supervisor@townofstamfordny.us
www.TownofStamfordNY.us

WILLIAM LAYTON
TOWN OF TOMPKINS
148 Bridge Street | PO Box 139 | Trout Creek, NY 13847
Phone: (607) 865-5694
www.TownofTompkins.org

JOSEPH CETTA
TOWN OF WALTON
129 North Street | Walton NY 13856-1217
Phone: (607) 865-5766 | Fax: (607) 865-9314
waltonsupervisor@stny.rr.com
www.TownofWalton.org

COMMITTEES
(* denotes committee chairperson)

Community Health
*Art Merrill
Joseph Cetta
Wayne Marshfield
Eric Wilson
Betty Scott

Economic Development
*Dennis Valente
Thomas Axtell
Carl Patrick Davis
Lisa Driscoll
John Kosier

Finance
*Art Merrill
Wayland Gladstone
George Haynes
John Kosier
Wayne Marshfield
Jeff Taggart
Mark Tuthill

Human Resources/Insurance
*James Ellis
Thomas Axtell
Wayland Gladstone
William Layton
Art Merril

Legislative
Lisa Driscoll
Allen Hinkley
Art Merrill
Mark Tuthill
Dennis Valente

Mental Health
*Joseph Cetta
Wayne Marshfield
Art Merrill
Eric Wilson
Betty Scott

Planning, Recreation, and Culture
*Jeff Taggart
Carl Patrick Davis
James Ellis
William Layton
Jerry Vernold

Public Safety
*Wayland Gladstone
Thomas Axtell
Carl Patrick Davis
Allen Hinkley
Betty Scott

Public Works
*George Haynes
Joseph Cetta
Carl Patrick Davis
John Kosier
William Layton
Dennis Valente
Jeff Vernold

Shared Services
*Mark Tuthill
Joseph Cetta
Lisa Driscoll
James Ellis
George Haynes

Social Services
*Wayne Marshfield
Allen Hinkley
Eric Wilson
Jeff Taggart
Jerry Vernold

ADVOCACY PARTNERS

The Chamber partners with state and national organizations to ensure that our collective voice has greater impact in Albany and Washington, D.C. While we may not agree with ALL of the legislative priorities of these groups, we often find common cause and actively engage with legislators as part of larger efforts.

These partnering state-wide and national organizations include:

United States Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations. Delaware County Chamber members may be eligible for a free small business membership in the U.S. Chamber. Contact the Delaware County Chamber for details.
https://www.uschamber.com

Upstate United
Upstate United is a non-partisan, pro-taxpayer, pro-economic growth and pro-Upstate education and advocacy coalition made up of business and trade organizations from across Upstate New York. Its mission is to advocate for fiscally responsible policies that support a vibrant upstate economy.

Home

New York Chapter–National Federation of Independent Businesses
NFIB is the voice of small business. It’s a member-driven organization advocating for America’s small and independent business owners in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals.

state

Business Council of New York State
The Business Council of New York State, Inc., is the leading business organization in New York State, representing the interests of large and small firms throughout the state. Its membership is made up of roughly 2,400 member companies, local chambers of commerce and professional and trade associations.
https://www.bcnys.org