Meet Didi Barrett
By Mike Connery on 08/25/2010 @ 10:28 AM
Didi Barrett had her campaign in the 41st SD profiled by The Albany Project yesterday.
Barrett has been a longtime leader in the not-for-profit community for more than two decades whose family roots in the 41st SD go back to the 1930s. She had this to say on why she is running:
"New York State is the most dysfunctional state in the United States, according to the Brennan Center, and we can't expect those who brought us into this mess to bring us out. As a founder of several thriving not-for-profits, now serving tens of thousands of people, I have extensive experience in building organizations, monitoring budgets and positioning these groups for growth. I am an accomplished planner, strategist and coalition builder and longtime community activist (please see my bio on www.didiforsenate.com for a comprehensive outline of my experience.) I was urged to run by people familiar with my skills and experience, and obviously, I feel I can use my strengths to create positive change in Albany. I not only know how to get things done, I would also offer a fresh perspective."
On how to to tap the 41st district's agricultural production into the downstate economy:
"We need to create markets for Hudson Valley products that will keep local farms in business, and allow young farmers to literally put down roots here. One way to do this is to create incentives for consumers downstate to buy local, in-state produce. We also need to protect the natural resources that make this region such abundant farm country. There are successful local efforts in place, such as Columbia County Bounty and Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation, that are creating new markets for local farm products and promoting our agricultural industry. We need to support these efforts in whatever ways we can, and look into how their efforts can be expanded. We need to be encouraging our schools, food markets, and other institutions to tap into the regional bounty."
Barrett's campaign against 30-year Albany politician Stephen Saland has steadily been gaining momentum since she declared her candidacy a few months ago. She has been endorsed by both Eleanor's Legacy and The Women's Campaign Forum and recently released a new campaign video where she described her vision to use new, common sense solutions to lower property taxes and bring jobs back to her district.
You can check out the rest of the interview here.
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