I’m launching a self-funded, write-in campaign for Legislature District 7, and I’m asking for your vote.
I assure you, this was not my original plan. After almost 45 years of service in local and Federal government – including the past eight representing the Villages of Lansing and Cayuga Heights on the Tompkins County Legislature – I was ready to retire at the end of this year. But the challenges now facing our county have become too serious for me to step away in good conscience.
Tompkins County is at an unprecedented inflection point. Due to redistricting and a wave of high-level staff retirements, Tompkins County will be governed by a 16-person Legislature that includes nine (9!) brand new legislators with no prior legislative experience, a new Director of Finance, new Commissioners of Social Services and Whole Health, and a new Highway Director.
At the same time, our county government will have to navigate the remaining years of the current presidential administration, including the potentially crippling fiscal impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on state and local governments, and the adverse effects of the administration’s anti-Ivy League animus on the university that is our county’s primary economic engine.
Experience matters now – more than ever. In this challenging environment, legislative experience and familiarity with county issues will be critical to our success. In my two terms as a County Legislator, I’ve served on and chaired multiple legislative committees and organizational boards. In the interest of brevity, I want to share some of the highlights of my experience.
As Chair of the Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality Committee for two years, I:
- worked with our County Commissioner of Planning and Sustainability and the Planning Advisory Board to adopt a more internally focused energy strategy that included planning for green facilities and a green fleet;
- worked with Anna Kelles to create the county’s Climate and Sustainable Energy Advisory Board;
- worked with Martha Robertson to fund the creation of the county’s first Chief Sustainability Officer position; and
- served as liaison to the Cayuga Lake Watershed Intermunicipal Organization;
More notably, this will be my sixth consecutive year as a member of the Budget, Capital, and Personnel Committee. I chaired the “BCP” committee for three years (2021-2023) as the county worked through the fiscal and staffing consequences of the pandemic. During that time, the Legislature created the Community Recovery Fund (using a portion of the county’s ARPA funds) and passed a number of thoughtful and conservative fiscal policies designed to preserve our fund balance, maintain our excellent bond rating, and identify reserve funds for specific purposes – all best practices recommended by the NYS Comptroller and the Government Finance Officers Association.
This year I will be participating in my eighth legislative budget process. I’ve always believed that a strong fiscal foundation is essential for delivering the services our community depends on, and I’ve consistently legislated with that principle in mind.
Why a write-in campaign? As I said at the outset, this was not my plan. A write-in campaign isn’t easy. However, I believe it’s essential to offer you the opportunity to vote for a candidate with experience, familiarity with the issues, and a proven track record that you can rely on. If re-elected, I will continue to work hard to keep our county on sound fiscal footing and able to provide our community with the services it needs.
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to represent my constituents for the past eight years. I would be honored to earn your support for another term. I am not asking for campaign contributions – just your support among your family, friends, and neighbors, and at the ballot box. Whether you vote early or on Election Day, November 4th, 2025, please go to the bottom of the Tompkins County Legislator, District 7 column and write in “Deborah Dawson.”
To find out where you will vote on election day, complete and submit the NYS Board of Elections “Voter Lookup” form found at this link: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at ithacadeborah@yahoo.com.
With gratitude for your support and your vote,
