State Assembly candidate Andy Goodell will be on an independent ballot line this fall called "Change Albany," thanks to a very successful petition drive.
Literally thousands of independent, Democrat, Republican, and Conservative voters signed more than 200 pages of petitions to create the new ballot line.
"The response was overwhelmingly positive," Goodell said in a news release Tuesday.
In little more than two weeks, Goodell's camp collected more than 2,600 signatures from voters in every municipality in the 150th Assembly District - from Ripley to Silver Creek in the north and from Clymer to Kiantone in the south. Voters in the cities of Jamestown and Dunkirk contributed hundreds of signatures as well.
"Although it was a tremendous effort, it was also extremely rewarding," Goodell said. "The petition drive gave me an opportunity to meet hundreds of people across the county, all of whom were deeply concerned over the gross mismanagement of state government. Over and over again, people expressed their tremendous frustration that Albany was unable to adopt a budget on time, was focused on increasing spending and taxes, and was completely unable to address the real issues facing our state."
The "Change Albany" ballot line gives voters of every party an opportunity to send a clear message to the state Assembly - that change is needed, deserved and demanded for by the people.
"We need to cut taxes, not increase spending," Goodell said. "We need to reform Medicaid, not increase welfare. We need to do more for the hard working taxpayers of this state.
"Above all, we need to make New York more business friendly so that more businesses can grow and prosper in Chautauqua County," Goodell continued. "It is important that New York reform its burdensome regulations that drive up the cost of business and result in thousands of lost jobs."
Goodell went on to say that he has been impressed with the truly great hardworking residents of the county he's met as he's travelled the 150th District.
"There is no doubt that we have the skill and ability in Chautauqua County to be successful," Goodell said. "It is time for state government to put the taxpayers first, not treat them as a bottomless pit for new taxes and fees.
'Change Albany' is exactly the message we need to send this year," Goodell continued. "I am extremely pleased and honored to be running on this ballot line, and I am deeply thankful to the dozens of people who circulated petitions for me and the thousands who signed the petitions."
