Name: Ed Bond
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Occupation: Entrepreneur, owner/operator at DreamGames
Background/ Experience: 25 years in journalism as a reporter, editor, designer and journalism professor.
What made you decide to run for election or re-election?
I’m running for office because unchallenged elections – or elections decided only in primaries – are unhealthy for democracy and open government. People deserve a choice. In uncontested elections, large segments of the population do not get a chance to be heard. Many don’t bother voting. They feel like their votes don’t count. They feel helpless.
If elected, what county wide issue is your #1 priority to address?
Jobs and the economy. I would support policies that create local jobs and help the residents start new businesses here in Chemung County. Money going into the pockets of the middle and working class would get spent at local businesses and local professional services. This multiplies into a sustaining cycle of spending and hiring in the county. The result is a healthy economy and a better outlook for everyone.
What concerns are unique to your district? How will you address them?
Horseheads needs to take advantage of its proximity to the many great destinations in the Finger Lakes and become a destination itself. When we invest in our community by fostering attractive and fun destinations, residents would stay here to spend their money. Visitors would come here to spend their money. But maintaining infrastructure is key to becoming a destination. Roads and flood control are the other big issues I hear from residents, and these are resources that all areas of the county compete for. The new legislature and executive will have to address how to meet all these needs fairly. As I often say, we will have to “Do what we can, with what we have.” But if we make the right investments into our community, the payoff will help us all.
There is a resurgence of enthusiasm and hope for the future of the City of Elmira. If elected, how would you propose the county help to keep that energy and momentum moving forward?
We need to end the animosity between the city and the county so that all parties can work together for the common good. Issues should not be addressed as County vs. City or even as Towns vs. City, We are all in it together, and a boost to the city is a boost to all of us in Chemung County. We need to find policies that are best for our individual communities and the county as a whole. We need to communicate with each other, understand the financial situation in each municipality and understand what each needs to succeed and how we can help each other. if we can dig down into the facts, we may be able to find solutions. Digging into the facts and communicating those facts to others is what I did as a newspaper reporter. So I would use those skills to help solve problems.
What personal skill set or personality trait do you feel would be a benefit if elected?
I’m a former newspaper reporter. I listen, take notes, ask questions and am endlessly curious about a wide range of topics. Everyone has a story, and the story of how Chemung County provides the services we need is one that has not been properly told. As a former reporter, I believe in open government, fiscal transparency and being financially responsible. Being a reporter means diving into complex situations and discerning quickly how a proposal would affect the lives of the residents. To ensure open government, I would put my all of my actions and interactions as a public official on the record.
Journalists watch the results of good and bad policies. We spend hours interviewing the people who made the decisions in the key events of our lives. This has created a wealth of pragmatic advice in my head that I want to put to use.
Government must be run efficiently. Some would say that government should be run like a business, but I don't agree with that analogy. Government is more than a business. Here's the difference: If a business loses customers, that business is free to retool itself and seek out new customers and markets. They can write off those old customers and move on. Government can never write off its customers. A government will always have the same customers -- its constituents, who are the customers AND the employers of the government.
Do you favor term limits for County Legislators?
Yes. I think the county government benefits from having legislators of a diversity of backgrounds, professional experience and of different walks of life. A diversity of legislators creates a diversity of ways to solve problems. So, a frequent overturn of legislators would be healthy.
My only concern with term limits is the loss of institutional knowledge. It may take a couple of years for a legislator to get up to speed on how things work best. They may learn lessons the hard way when they pursue a course of action that had failed in the past. So, if term limits are established, I would recommend county and local governments create a volunteer board of advisors made up of retired legislators who would offer advice and insight to newcomers.
What differentiates you from your opponent(s)?
Unlike my opponent, I’m not from Horseheads, but this town has become my adopted home. My wife and I chose to move here in 2001 to be close to her family. We chose Horseheads after living in California and considering other places to live, and I just can’t imagine living anywhere else right now. I’m originally from New Jersey and I’ve been a reporter in 5 states. I’ve written about issues at all levels of government, from planning and zoning all the way up to the federal level. I’ve watched as government officials and residents grapple with a wide range of problems. This gives me a broader experience to draw from and helps me see the big picture. I would also pursue more proactive contact with the residents. Rather than waiting for a problem to arise or for an election, I would be continually connecting to the residents by networking, holding town halls, coffee talks and sending out regular newsletters and blogs on local issues.
Anything else you would like to say to voters?
VOTE! It all gets better when everyone gets involved and votes. I have been saddened to watch as voter turnouts drop. Too often the voters tune out politics because the atmosphere has become poisonous. Both sides yelling at the voters and telling them what to think doesn’t help. When elections come down to a bitter battle between the "never this" and the "never that,” the average voter just wants to sit it out. But it is better to be FOR something than AGAINST something. So, when you vote, you should know what you are for. Use your vote to take positive action. Choose leaders who are willing to listen and find solutions. www.edbond.com/elected/
