I'm Chair of the County Legislature in upstate NY

I wanted to introduce myself since I'm new to Daily Kos.  I'm the progrssive Democratic chair of the Tompkins County Legislature.  Tompkins is the home to Ithaca and Cornell University.  

I've led the county's efforts to institute reform and rehabilitation programs instead of expanding the county jail. As a result we are the first, and so far only, county to defy state pressure to expand our jail.  Last year we cancelled construction plans, and have since been working with other counties facing state orders to build jail space.

I've also started a study committee to look at substituting a local income tax for what's become an oppressive property tax burden.  

I often write progressive guest editorials in the local paper on both local and national issues, and have been targeted by the Republicans for defeat this November.

I expect to post diaries on Daily Kos similar to my guest editorials and also seek political advice and strategic thinking from you all.  Many friends have told me about the exciting things happening in the blogoshpere and I'm looking forward to being a part of it.