On Election Day, Catharine Young will be returned to office for a fifth term as our district's state senator - as well she should be.
Sen. Young is running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines unopposed - a nod by the Democrats to her well-earned invincibility in the district that includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties and a part of Livingston County.
She was first elected in 57th Senate District in a special election after the untimely death of the affable Sen. Patricia McGee. At the time, Young was serving in the state Assembly. Although she had taken a leadership role in the Republican minority caucus in Albany, at home Assemblywoman Young seemed to be the very junior member of our area's state delegation, working in the long shadow of Democrat William Parment in the Assembly.
With her election to the state Senate in 2005, Sen. Young quickly proved herself to be the formidable, determined, talented and indefatigable champion of the people in her district that today we know her to be.
Her official biography lists the facts: She has chaired the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, and been co-chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission. She currently chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development; and the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. She is a member of the Finance Committee, Transportation Committee, Health Committee, Insurance Committee, Agriculture Committee, Environmental Conservation Committee, and Children and Family Services Committee.
What is not apparent in that cold-fact listing is Sen. Young's record of standing firm against continued over-the top-state spending and helping to bring the state Senate's Republican majority into a partnership with Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo in support of reasonable and responsible budgeting and government reform.
As effective as she is in Albany, Sen. Young has her finger on the pulse of communities all across her senatorial district. Her energy and willingness to be everywhere talking with everyone about everything are boundless.
Sen. Young has the endorsements of the state's top business groups - the Business Council of New York State, Unshackle Upstate and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. She is also a member of the Farm Bureau's Circle of Friends.
We add our voice to those congratulating her for a job very well done.
Although Sen. Young is running unopposed, we encourage you to cast a vote of confidence for her on whatever line feels comfortable to you on Election Day.
Catharine Young has more than earned it.