Lee Strong for Gates Town Board/Town Council

The  New York State Assembly and Senate this past year considered a bill - A995/S2445 - that would have allowed doctors to prescribe lethal medications to terminally ill patents. Physician-assisted suicide. A step on the slippery slope to euthanasia. The Legislative session ended in 2023 without a final vote, but it is anticipated the bill will be resurrected in January. If elected to the Gates Town Board, I will seek to have the Board issue a resolution opposing any such physician-assisted suicide legislation. Even  though such a town resolution would not be binding on the State Legislature, it would still be the moral and ethical thing to do, and it might help to bring attention to the issue and to objections to legalizing physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia in our state. The American Solidarity Party opposes assisted suicide and euthanasia, stating in its Principles: We recognize that assisted suicide and euthanasia are violations of disability rights, medical ethics, and huma

  The American Solidarity Party recognizes that firearms are uniquely effective tools for both legitimate uses (such as hunting and personal protection) and illegitimate uses (such as criminal homicide and suicide). We also acknowledge that our country has both a long history of private firearm ownership and a current problem of gun violence, and that the root causes of such violence go deeper than access to firearms. We believe that regulations and policies surrounding firearms must be evidence-based and balance the interests of public safety and individual rights. We support strengthening the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by fully funding it and expanding its capacity to process all background check requests within a 72-hour period.  State and Federal agencies must also report all relevant information to NICS in a timely manner. We support the standardization of criminal definitions across federal and state agencies to prevent misreporting information to NI

The American Solidarity Party believes that we are responsible for caring for God’s creation so that present and future generations can enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment, including clean air and water, and the rich biodiversity that is our heritage. The American Solidarity Party rejects the notion that environmental stewardship requires either diminished workers’ rights or population control. Maintaining our environment will require individuals, businesses, and local communities taking responsibility for their contributions; however, due to the national and global nature of our natural resources, we see an appropriate role for our federal and state governments in adopting and enforcing evidence-based policies regarding pollution, climate change, and alternative forms of energy. We support the strengthening of public infrastructure and planning to ensure that no home in America lacks easy access to clean drinking water and fresh food. We call for reviewing environmental laws t

What are my qualifications to run for Gates Town Board? Gates resident for 29 years. Active member of Parish of the Holy Family; as a volunteer there I help to deliver food and supplies to needy individuals and families, and to agencies serving the needy. Former President of the Friends of the Gate Public Library Board. Long-time member of the Gates Historical Society. Gates Blogger for the Democrat and Chronicle , covering the government of Gates, and Gates groups, news stories, and individuals. Retired English/History teacher. Worked full-time for more than a decade as an award-winning print reporter/editor, covering government, social issues, health care, and more. Worked for more than 20 years as part-time reporter/newscaster/local host for WXXI AM 1370, covering local government and politics, health care, and more.

 

T he Republicans are running three candidates for Gates Town Board (Supervisor, and two Councilmen), and the Democrats have no candidates. If that is indeed the case, that's unfortunate. In a democracy, it's healthy to have opposition, to have discussion and debate to improve and refine ideas, and to provide different perspectives and ideas. One-party rule too often leads to laziness and rubber-stamping, and, when less honorable people are involved, the risk of corruption. Moreover, the voters should have a choice. So as a member of the American Solidarity Party, I offer myself as a write-in candidate. The Party stands for Common Good, Common Ground, Common Sense.