The Peru Gazette

Two candidates are seeking to represent Area 7 on the Clinton County Legislature. Republican Incumbent Rob Timmons is seeking following a four-year term. Democrat Carol Blakeslee-Collin is challenging Timmons as she did in 2015. 

The Peru Gazette posed four questions to Blakeslee-Collin and Timmons.

1. Summarize your educational background, primary employment, a little about your family and past community involvement.

Carol Blakeslee-Collin responded: I grew up in the small town of Windham, NY in the northern Catskills and come from a large family that believes in giving back to the community.  I received a BA from Trinity College, a Benton Fellowship from the University of Chicago, and an MST from SUNY Plattsburgh.  My husband, Jimm Collin, and I moved to Keeseville fifteen years ago from Washington, D.C.  where I worked as a producer for the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and before that ABC News “20/20”, various PBS units, local news, and as an independent documentary producer.   After our move to the North Country, I was the executive producer at Mountain Lake PBS and the director/curator at the Clinton County Historical Museum.  I am now retired, with the exception of an occasional journalism assignment.  I live in a great neighborhood on Main Street in Keeseville in the old Keese/Baber house built in 1825 with my husband and our 2 dogs and two cats.   I am presently chair of the Ausable Democrats, and a Board member for ADK Action, the Upper Jay Art Center, and Noon Rotary in Plattsburgh.  I am also very active in the Keene Valley Congregational Church.  

Rob Timmons responded: I am a lifelong resident of the Town of Peru; I graduated from Peru Central School in 1985 and Paul Smith’s College in 1989 with a degree in Hospitality. My wife, Michelle (Duprey), and I have two daughters, Lacy and Allison. I am the owner of Rob’s Repairs, specializing in remodeling, plumbing, and electrical work, and Clinton County Area 7 Legislator.  I worked for the Town of Peru Highway Department for a total of eleven years and was Highway Superintendent for six years before leaving to start Rob’s Repairs. I was also a volunteer firefighter in Peru for ten years.

2. How will your background and/or successes assist you as a Clinton County Legislator? What county issues concern you the most and how would you address these issues?

Carol Blakeslee-Collin responded: As a former journalist, I understand that there are many sides to an issue and am accustomed to seeking out and listening to all of them.  Now that I am retired, I am at a point in my life where I can give back to the community in the form of public service and would be honored to serve as the representative for Area 7 on the Clinton County Legislature.  The issues that concern me the most are our lack of reliable broadband, the effect of the opioid epidemic especially on families, the lack of coordinated job training, and our ability to attract and sustain well-paying jobs, especially for young people.  Improving each of these will lead to a better quality of life and more economic growth for the region.  If elected, I will find ways to address each of these issues through research, interviews, and visits to county agencies.  

Rob Timmons responded: My previous position as Town of Peru Highway Superintendent provided the immediate advantage of understanding how government works including budgets, personnel and planning.  As Chairman of the Transportation Committee, I am able to work with the County Highway Department to assure our roads are well maintained.  Due to my construction background, I have provided input on the expansion at Plattsburgh International Airport, and I work closely with the Building and Grounds Department on the annual $500,000 capital improvement projects. As the liaison to Cornell Co-Operative Extension we are working to help local farmers by maintaining the Agricultural Regional Team and as the liaison for Soil and Water we are continuing to work to improve water quality by hydro-seeding ditches and roadsides to combat soil erosion problems. In order to sustain our reasonable county tax rate and stay under the 2% tax cap, we need to focus on economic development including job creation by growing small businesses and supporting our corporate businesses.  We are currently developing a plan for the former county airport to encourage more business in Clinton County adding to our tax base and helping to minimize our tax burden.

3. Why should a person vote for you?

Carol Blakeslee-Collin responded: If my answers to questions #1 and #2 don’t persuade a person to vote for me, there is not much more I can say.  I believe I am more qualified than my opponent, Robbie Timmons, and can do a better job representing the people of Area 7 in Clinton County.   Editors correction: For about 10 minutes the Peru Gazette attributed Ms. Blakeslee-Collin’s response to this question to Mr. Timmons. 

Rob Timmons responded: I like to think about and rationalize problems and come up with common sense solutions. I have an excellent attendance record for regular legislative sessions and committee meetings and enjoy being a part of a legislature that works across party lines to benefit and help our county continue to grow and be a great place to live. My background helps me to understand most problems that we deal with and to help come up with cost effective solutions. I am dedicated to any job I take on and put forth every effort to complete it fully. I have served on the following committees: Transportation (Chairman), Public Safety, Finance, Children and Family, Personnel, and Buildings and Grounds as well as the liaison for Cornell Co-Operative Extension and County Soil and Water; I look forward to continuing to our work on these committees in my next term.

4. What party lines will your name appear on?

Carol Blakesleee-Collin responded: I am on the following party lines:  Democrat and Working Families Party.   

Rob Timmons responded: I will be on the Republican and Independence party lines this November.