Why energy costs and Medicaid lead me to Burke

Dear Editor,

I am voting for Gwen Burke for the Putnam County Legislature because I am deeply concerned about the rising electric bills to heat my home and the cuts to Medicaid. I have an adult son with autism and he depends on services and health care from Medicaid.

While the legislature cannot directly impact energy costs to consumers, it can use its authority to petition and/or support the governor, state lawmakers, and the Public Service Commission to say no to rate hikes. And because AI data centers drive up electric costs, the legislature can pass resolutions that call on state and local municipalities to establish strict limits on grid capacity and water usage, which also impact the environment.

Gwen Burke has the background to understand these complex problems because she is an environmental engineer and authority on wastewater management and conservation. She manages projects to prevent pollution, clean up contaminated sites and ensure safe drinking water.

As Gwen is also a financial expert, she is well equipped to serve on the legislature, whose primary responsibility is to hold the county’s purse strings. As such, it oversees Medicaid disbursements, and we must have conscientious and competent legislators to carry out this responsibility efficiently and transparently, especially in light of the unconscionable cuts to Medicaid, which have begun but will be increasing after the midterms. These cuts will be devastating to people in Putnam County, especially to people with disabilities and people in need.

Gwen is not a politician. She owes no favors to anyone. For these reasons and others too numerous to recount here, I want Gwen Burke to represent me. I hope you will vote for Gwen Burke, who will be an outstanding addition to the Putnam County Legislature.

-Wendy Wolf, Mahopac