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VOTE411 Voter Guide

New York Senate District 52

The New York State Senate is the upper house of the New York State Legislature. Its sixty-three members represent New York State and its more than 19 million citizens. The legislature’s primary purpose is to draft and approve changes to the laws of New York.These changes are driven by complex public policy issues. To effectively represent the will of the people, senators must gain a deep understanding of those issues and how they impact New Yorkers.New York State s 52nd Senate District includes parts of Tompkins, Cortland, and Broome.

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  • Candidate picture

    Mike Bolles
    (Rep, Cons)

  • Candidate picture

    Lea Webb
    (Dem, WF)

Biographical Information

What would be your top three priorities if elected?

What do you think would be the most beneficial policies to address climate change and the damage caused by climate change in NYS?

What policies will you pursue to promote social and racial justice in our state?

What actions, if any, would you propose New York State take after the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais?

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Experience and Qualifications I am a lifelong resident of the Southern Tier. Before my election to the NY Senate, I served for two terms on Binghamton City Council. After terming out on the City Council, I worked at Binghamton University as an Educator in the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion education and programs for faculty, staff, and students. I am committed to fight for increased funding to our community colleges and our SUNY system, which function as economic engines and bridges into the workforce for so many of our neighbors. As a proud union member and the daughter of two union members, I know that workers are the backbone of our economy and I will continue to work for good- paying union jobs and fair working conditions.
Community Involvement As a life-long community organizer, I believe deeply in expanding opportunities for civic engagement. I am a national trainer with Vote Run Lead, training thousands of women across the country on how to run for elected office. She was the Co-Chair/Co-Founder of the Black Millennial Political Convention and a Founding Board Member of Local Progress.
Education I am a proud graduate of SUNY Broome and Binghamton University.
Campaign Endorsements 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Broome-Tioga Federation of Labor, Central NY Area Labor Federation, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA), Communications Workers of America (CWA), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA-NY), Mason Tenders District Council, New York State AFL-CIO, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, SEIU United 200, Workers United, 32BJ SEIU, Eleanor’s Legacy, Family Planning Action Fund of South Central New York, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund, New York League of Conservation Voters, Working Families Party, Citizen Action, 314 Action Fund and Caring Majority Rising.
Campaign Website http://leawebb.com
Campaign Email info@leawebb.com
Campaign Instagram www.instagram.com/leawebbforny/
Campaign Twitter Handle @leawebbforny
Campaign Mailing Address PO Box 583
Johnson City, NY 13790
I will continue to work to address the affordability crisis to ensure that Southern Tier families can thrive. For example, we must also lower utility rates and hold these companies accountable to address growing disparities when it comes to affordability. As the Chair of Women's Issues in the Senate, I continue to advance initiatives and funding to support reproductive and maternal health. My additional legislative priorities include continuing to fully fund our public schools and support our higher education institutions like SUNY. I have been a long advocate for improving access to childcare and I support passing universal childcare, so that families across New York have access to universal, free, high-quality child care, and New York Health, so that every New Yorker has access to high-quality healthcare.
My district is no stranger to the effects of extreme weather and the climate crisis. Here in the Southern Tier, we understand the dangers posed by climate change first hand. The city of Binghamton, in Broome County, is located in the floodplain at the meeting of the Susquehanna and Chenango rivers. Our community has experienced multiple “once in a generation” flooding events following intense rains, in 2006, and again in 2011. What was once extreme weather is becoming common and we all understand the dangers posed by the climate from flooding, historic storms, violent winds, and rising temperatures.

I am committed to fighting for legislation to address the climate crisis head on and empower our communities with the resources to end our reliance on fossil fuels. We know that renewable energy is better for our planet and our pockets. We need to build out our solar and wind power, while strengthening our grid. We need to make polluters pay for the harm that they’ve done to the planet.
I am running for reelection for a third term to continue fighting to address poverty, strengthen families, and address the needs of historically marginalized and underserved communities across the state who have so often been denied a seat at the table. I will continue to fight to center the needs of working families by increasing funding to our childcare sector, raising the wages of workers, supporting our community colleges and universities, and improving equitable access to housing and healthcare, and protecting our immigrant communities. I will also fight to protect our natural resources and continue to ensure a just and equitable transition to a green economy.
This decision setback voting access for countless marginalized community members. We must continue to do everything in our power here in New York to uphold the Voting Rights Act and to strengthen protections for voters of color and all marginalized communities. Every year in the Senate, we pass election protection and voter right expansion bills. I proudly co-sponsor these bills and advocate for other budgetary and policy support. I also carry a bill that would expand voting access for college students.