The Peru Gazette

PLATTSBURGH, NY — In a powerful show of bipartisan unity, Assemblyman Billy Jones and former Assemblywoman Janet Duprey formally endorsed Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Michael Cashman in his campaign to represent New York’s 115th Assembly District.

“When I decided to step down, I thought there was one person that would be great at this job, and that’s Michael Cashman,” said Assemblyman Billy Jones. “He would be a great voice, and is a great voice for the North Country. He has done extraordinary things.

“We have a lot of issues here. We have a lot of issues that affect people’s day to day lives, just a couple of them that were mentioned before housing, infrastructure, people dealing with everyday problems and you have to deal directly with the constituency to do that, and Michael has already proven that he can do that. We need a leader like this in Albany. We need someone that will go down there and fight for the North Country.”

“With Michael’s leadership, Clinton, Franklin, and Essex County can be confident their constituents will have exemplary leadership and commitment,” said former Assemblywoman Janet Duprey. “Michael has a unique blend of policy, experience, empathy, dedication, and honesty.”

Cashman, joined by family, friends, and neighbors, thanked both Jones and Duprey for their decades of service and for their confidence in his candidacy.

“Thank you both for your kind words, your support, and for your decades of service to the North Country,” said Michael Cashman. “I’m honored to have your confidence, and I’m inspired by the examples you both have set. I am proud to call both Billy Jones and Janet Duprey friends, and two leaders who set the standard for accessible, community-focused service in the North Country.”

“This is where I met my wife, Olivia, my partner in life, in love, and in service to this community. This is where I earned my degrees, built my life, and committed myself to public service. My grandfather used to say, ‘Where you choose to live is a demonstration of your values.’ I chose the North Country not just to live, but to serve.”

Cashman described his working-class family background, the lessons he learned from his parents and grandparents, and how those values shaped his public service. He pointed to his work with veterans, as a leader with North Country Honor Flight and through the Battlefield Memorial Gateway Project, and to his record as Town Supervisor delivering bipartisan results for housing, economic development, parks, and infrastructure.

“We didn’t get there by shouting at each other. We sat down, found common ground, and got to work,” Cashman said. “That’s the leadership I’ll bring to Albany: practical, collaborative, and focused on solutions.”

A Platform for the North Country

Cashman outlined clear priorities for the district:

• Affordability for families: Expanding childcare, fighting heating and electricity rate hikes, supporting renters, first-time homebuyers, and seniors, and cutting red tape for small businesses.
• Public safety and accountability: Supporting police, firefighters, correction officers, and EMTs; fixing Raise the Age to ensure accountability; and combating opioids with prevention and recovery resources.
• Investing in the future: Protecting rural healthcare, strengthening education and the trades, rebuilding roads, bridges, and water systems, and expanding affordable broadband access.

“These priorities aren’t abstract,” Cashman said. “They come from living here, listening to you, and delivering as a public servant. Over the next 60 plus days, I will continue traveling throughout the district to listen, to learn, and to continue earning your trust and your vote.”

Cashman closed by stressing that his candidacy is about bringing people together across Clinton, Franklin, and Essex counties.

“This campaign is not about party labels. It’s about people,” he said. “It’s about neighbors. It’s about building a North Country that works for everyone where families can afford to stay, small businesses can grow, seniors can age with dignity, and every child has the chance to succeed. Together, let’s build the future the North Country deserves.”