Steeped in history and tradition, New York’s 24^th Congressional District could be called a homestead for American diversity and civil rights. Near Rome in 1777 colonials defended Fort Stanwix agains the King’s 8^th Regiment in a victory that prevented the British from dividing the colonial territories later leading to their decisive defeat at Saratoga.

During the Civil War the entire region was a stopping point for the underground railroad.  And on our western border at Seneca Falls Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott set the wheels of women’s suffrage in motion. It’s now the home of the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Today, those ideals of liberty are still threaded to the history that brought them forth, in a district considered moderate but represented by a vast group of ideologies.

Covering all or part of 11 upstate New York counties the 24^th is geographically one of the largest in the state with a population of over 650,000. Spanning a “fish hook” from the central Fingerlakes region through central New York the district expands north into the Adirondacks. It encompasses all of Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer and Seneca counties and parts of Broome, Cayuga, Oneida, Otsego, Tioga and Tompkins counties. It represents county seats and cities including Geneva, Seneca Falls, Auburn, Cortland, Norwich, Oneonta, Cooperstown, Rome, Utica and Herkimer.

Like much of New York and the nation, the region has been fighting for jobs and for viable industries to help stave off the nation’s economic downtown. But thanks in no small part to Congressman Arcuri’s hard work and diligence, our district is winning that fight. Recent independent studies by the New York Times and CNN Money show the region is leading the nation’s economic comeback!

Our district is home and near some of the world’s top universities which is helping to spur new generations of green energy and biotechnology growth. We have a strong health care sector and agriculture is a backbone to the economy, with a robust dairy sector and the second largest wine and grape producing region in the country.

Ideologically, the passionate threads of the past are present in most Upstate New Yorkers today, regardless of party or the geographic and socio-economic diversity that comes naturally in such a large area. As hard working, family oriented people we expect our representation in Congress to reflect that. Congressman Arcuri has gained the reputation of understanding the needs of his diverse constituency because, as he believes, representation begins with listening.