Aaron Gies hosts town hall meeting in city
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Aaron Gies, Democratic candidate for Congress in New York's 23rd Congressional District, kicked off his districtwide 100 town hall tour in Jamestown recently with more than 125 people attending.
The Jamestown town hall marked the beginning of Gies' town hall tour, which will take him to communities throughout the 23rd Congressional District. The district stretches roughly 230 miles from the Pennsylvania border to the Southern Tier and 100 miles from South Lockport to the Pennsylvania border.
"This is what democracy is supposed to look like," Gies said. "People coming together, asking tough questions, sharing their experiences, and expecting their representatives to actually listen. I am running for Congress because I believe every person in this district deserves to have a representative who shows up, listens, and works with them to make a good life affordable."
Gies said the purpose of the tour is simple: to listen to residents directly and make sure the campaign is grounded in the experiences of the people who live and work in the district. Throughout the town hall, residents raised questions about affordability, artificial intelligence, healthcare, housing, education, the future of rural communities, and the challenges facing working families.
"For too long, people have been told that politics is something that happens to them instead of something they get to participate in," Gies said. "I want to change that. Whether you live in Jamestown, Olean, Elmira, Corning, or one of the many rural communities in between, your voice matters. Your concerns matter. And you deserve to be heard."
Gies is also seeking additional debates before the election. Gies made the challenge to Langworthy in a public encounter Sunday, calling on Langworthy to make a public commitment to a series of debates held in different parts of the district.
"People in this district deserve to hear directly from the people asking for their vote," said Gies. "This district is too big, and the issues facing our communities are too important, for voters to be kept at arm's length from their representatives."
A televised debate is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. on television station WETM.