The 150th NYS Assembly District covers all of Chautauqua County, and only Chautauqua County. Cath Kestler, who lives in Silver Creek, Chautauqua County, shares this perspective of  her  State Assemblyman. This article can also be found in the (Dunkirk) Observer Today.

Once a year, like clockwork there is one thing you can depend on—a thick, slick opinion poll from New York State Assemblyman Andy Goodell.  He insists he wants to hear from us, his constituents; not with what we actually want to say, but a carefully crafted,

NYS 150th Assembly District

multiple-choice questionnaire paid for by us, the taxpayers.

These questions typically revolve around the Republican agenda and the answers are worded so you actually pick on the answer he wants you to.  Usually I take the time to fill out the questionnaire and I will answer what I am looking for him to accomplish.

Assemblyman Andy is the guy who shows up to everything—he walks in all the parades and tosses out candy, even when other candidates are turned away and told they can’t walk in the parade.  He can be seen attached to Rep. Tom Reed’s hip at all of his Chautauqua County Town Halls, sitting in the back row listening, but never actually holding a meeting with his constituents himself.  He’s probably at the hot dog contest or grape-stomping contest, anything to stay in the public eye because Assemblyman Andy really hasn’t accomplished anything newsworthy on his own.

How can you in all good conscience collect a paycheck, Assemblyman Andy?  He has held his seat since 2010 and I can’t find anything that he has actually done.  Back in 2013 when New York State Governor Cuomo passed the NY Safe Act, I did find a press release against the Safe Act, the same one Rep. Tom Reed put out.

I know about now you are probably saying, “Oh, crap, here she goes again….”  Yeppers, people, I’m going there.  Do you know why!?!  Because I care about western NY and I have a platform and will not be silenced.

Many have been verbal regarding the New York State Thruway, it is the fifth busiest toll road in the United States and it stretches from the Pennsylvania line to Yonkers.  It spans approximately 569.83 miles and it’s officially the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway where 496.00 miles are tolled roads.  The toll booths were supposed to come down upon paying off the cost of building the road and that was in 1996.  It’s 2016 and we’re paying a pretty penny to travel it.

My question to you, Assemblyman Andy is why is the worst section of the NYS Thruway located in Northern Chautauqua?

Literally, it is posted as “ROUGH ROAD” and the road conditions are so treacherous that we are requested to lower our speed limit to 45mph as you travel from Exit 58 toward Buffalo.  As soon as you are off the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation the road resumes to normal.  Why is that!?!

Psst, Assemblyman Andy, I just found you a project.  Look into it.  You’ve lived off the dole for six years now; it really does feel better knowing you actually worked for that paycheck we pay you.

Assemblyman Andy hasn’t committed as to whether he will run again for his seat, now that there is actually something to do, he probably won’t.  We can be rest assured that he will have an opponent in the next election in a Brocton native, Jason Perdue.  I know where my vote is going.