Vote Blue Oswego Co. Legislature

On February 2, 2026, the Oswego County Legislature voted to defeat a proposed “no collusion” resolution that would have limited or banned Sheriff Don Hilton’s office from providing backup for federal immigration authorities. The vote was split along party lines allowing the Republican majority to vote down the proposal. Today is August 24, 2026 and 17 Democrats are running for Oswego County Legislature seats across the county. I believe citizens have been galvanized by the presence of the Oswego County Sheriff’s Officers at the September 2025 immigration raid at a food plant in Cayuga County.

I think nothing demonstrates the Republican led cultural wars nationwide more than Oswego County Legislator Richard Kline’s comment, as reported by Oswego County News Now on April 9, 2026, in response to our county’s rising unhoused population data by stating, “homelessness is the city’s [problem], most of us out in the country have dogs and guns”. Town of Schroeppel citizens heard and have stepped up to nominate Democrat Christine Vaverchak Vestigo to run for the Oswego County District 12 seat, the seat currently held by Mr. Kline.

Christine is a recently retired occupational therapist who has worked with children to help them gain strength and to adapt to the skills they need to succeed in school and later as adults. District 12 shares its border with the Town of Clay. Christine is well aware of the planning Oswego County representatives have to address by living near the rapid growth occurring in northern Onondaga County and the value of protecting our natural resources, including our border Great Lake, Lake Ontario. Christine is campaigning and listening to the concerns of local residents and she has been able to provide them with the information they need. I am proud that she is using this door to door campaign time to be a good neighbor, as well as to ask for a vote. Because she is a good neighbor, she understands services for vulnerable people and populations makes us stronger as a group, she understands growth is tempered with environmental responsibility, she believes in unions because the trickle down theory doesn’t work! and she believes cooperation does not mean spending local dollars to shore up a flawed federal policy.

We either work together or we work against each other – there is no them or us – there is only “We the People”. Please vote for Christine Vestigo in District 12. Please get to know and support the 17 Democratic candidates up for election to our legislature. Vote Blue in November – Thank you. Noreen Patterson