Forsythe takes on Russell in 118th
Republican David W. Forsythe would like to bring a little straight talk to state government.
"I'm going to tell you how it is," the St. Lawrence County legislator said. "I don't always have the answer that people want to hear, but I'll give it you."
The Lisbon resident has been disappointed by Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, saying the Theresa Democrat tends to sugarcoat situations to soothe the special interests that support her.
Mr. Forsythe is proposing a change, announcing last week that he will seek the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties' nominations in the 118th Assembly District in an attempt to unseat the first-term lawmaker.
The 46-year-old is relying on his experience managing three businesses to frame his approach to resolving the state's budget woes.
"Government has got to be reactive and be able to downsize and quickly. And you've got to make tough decisions," he said.
Mr. Forsythe said he's unafraid to make cuts needed to St. Lawrence County government, but said a lot of his colleagues "don't have the stomach to make the tough decisions."
The self-described fiscal conservative often finds himself in the minority, voting "no" to express his displeasure with a budget item. Mr. Forsythe acknowledged that he'd be in a similar situation if elected to the Assembly, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 2 to 1.
"I've been willing to work with both sides," he said, adding that he'd align with any lawmaker who had a good idea.
"I like to consider myself an independent," he said. "I pride myself on voting what's best for the people I represent. I've taken my lumps along the way, but I have people on all sides thanking me for how I voted."
Ideally, Mr. Forsythe said, he would like to raise money for his campaign through local donors and businesses. But he said he realizes it will take more than the $500 he spent on his first Legislature campaign to win the race, so he's willing to contribute an unspecified amount of money.
"I don't want to owe RACC hundreds of thousands of dollars," he said, referring to the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee. "I want to do this with grass-roots people. When you sell your soul to the devil, that's what people are sick of."
If Mr. Forsythe prevails, he said, he'd like to continue the type of work he's started in the county Legislature: looking for ways to streamline government by reducing the number of administrators.
"I think every department has to be looked at," he said.
Mr. Forsythe said the state Department of Correctional Services should have done more to cut administrative staff before looking to close state prisons, such as the one in Ogdensburg.
The Wilder-Forsythe Insurance owner said he'd also work toward making the state more "business-friendly" by reducing taxes and shedding regulations. He said he would advocate for an end to unfunded mandates and for a reduction in Medicaid costs.
THE FORSYTHE FILE
David W. Forsythe
■ Age: 46
/ Residence: Lisbon
/ Family: wife, Paula; three children
/ Job: co-owner of Basswood Lodge & Hunting Preserve, Rensselaer Falls, 1996 to present; partner in Wilder-Forsythe Insurance, Ogdensburg, 1987 to present; partner in Jones Insurance Agency, Ogdensburg, 1995 to present
/ Experience: St. Lawrence County Legislature, 2007-present
■ Education: Graduated from Ogdensburg Free Academy, 1981
/ The 118th Assembly District: The district primarily follows the St. Lawrence River, encompassing the towns between Cape Vincent and Massena. It also includes the city of Watertown and the towns of Canton and Potsdam.
