As a husband, parent, and teacher, I am deeply committed to Queensbury and Warren County and have been for almost two decades. My wife and I were engaged and married in Warren County. Two of our three children were born in Glens Falls Hospital. Besides our home in Queensbury, we also care for and have long-term interests in family properties in Bolton Landing and Johnsburg. I also teach locally in the neighboring rural community of Fort Ann in Washington County and am involved in local organizations in the Queensbury/Glens Falls communities.
One of my most notable assets, however, is my experience in government.
My activism in Ward 4 brought the attention of the water issues on Northwest Road to the Town Board, which helped facilitate an engineer report to assist in the safeguarding of Northwest Village. My wife and I have also been active in support and contribution to both of Queensbury’s Short-term rental laws. Additionally, I helped craft the language in a recent NYSAC resolution to close the loophole in Megan’s Law which allows sexual predators to stay in residential neighborhoods unannounced; and I will continue to fight for this local protection. Finally, prior to living in the Lake George area, I served as the press secretary of the Suffolk County Legislature.
As press secretary, it was necessary for me to attend every legislative general meeting and committee meeting during my tenure; this included subcommittees, as well. The exposure received by attending these meetings was immeasurable. It helped me become familiar with such programs as Suffolk’s Farm Land Preservation, which is the oldest such program in the nation, and the County’s Open Space program which has been operational since the 1950s. To balance the interest of these programs while still promoting economic development with the historical fabric of the community, Suffolk started to promote smart communities through smart growth. I also dealt with the media on both national and local issues, from undocumented immigrants to Brownfields to Suffolk’s pending Budget crisis, while working closely with the elected officials in every branch of government, regardless of political affiliation, including the Executive Office.
When faced with a $20 million sale-tax shortfall in sales-tax, I was among a handful of staff members working directly under the presiding officer, who went through the County’s $1.9 billion budget line-by-line and helped cut $26 million in wasteful spending to off-set the loss sales-tax revenue. Additionally, as a legislative aide, I helped design Suffolk’s first Eco-Tourism task force and contributed to the nation’s first sales tax exemption on Hybrid Cars. The presiding officer and the chairman of the Environment Committee entrusted me with these responsibilities due to my education in Wildlife Biology and my concern for the environment, both of which would be useful in keeping our area pristine for future generations.
Though I call Queensbury home and set my roots here over a decade ago, I have also lived and worked in communities both large and small, from places like Long Island and LA to Montana, and an isolated fishing community in Alaska. I am also closely familiar with two ski communities that developed and transitioned from local use to major resorts, one which benefited local residences and one that did not, which is a valuable experience to have with the pending expansion of West Mountain, which I support. In short, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t as our communities grow.
My lifetime care and concern for the environment, my love and appreciation for the people of Queensbury, and my experience in county government, I believe, make me a qualified choice to represent Queensbury as Warren County Supervisor At-Large.
Thank you for your consideration. I hope to have your support on November 7, 2023.
James is the author of Corporation YOU: A Business Plan for the Soul, The Christmas Save, and two children’s books: The Second Prince and Klaus: The Gift-giver to ALL!
As a writer, James’s appearances include Newsweek, The Inside Success Show, Bob Salter (CBS Radio), Mike Siegel, Mancow, and more.
Beyond writing, James worked with At-Risk youth in Southern California for over six years. His contributions to the classroom — featured on local television and in the LA Daily News and the Los Angeles Times’ Burbank Leader — earned him the honors of “Teacher of the Year”. James was also twice honored by a CASDA Scholar as the teacher who had the greatest influence on that student. As an educator, James also appeared twice on America Live with Megyn Kelly.
Today, James lives in Queensbury, NY where he continues to teach — and write. Besides his books, you can follow his musing — and his campaign — on this blog Corporation You.
To contact James or book an interview, please contact Mark of Goldman/McCormick PR at (516) 639-0988 or Mark@goldmanmccormick.com.
Corporation YOU 