Last licks from letter writers on race for 22nd Congressional District (Your Letters)

Editor’s note: The deadline for submitting letters to the editor related to the election has passed.
To the Editor:Regarding “Rep. Brandon Williams: Where I stand on abortion” (Sept. 5, 2024):
Talk about trying to take a middle road on an issue which he knows where the majority of Americans stand, i.e., that of a woman’s right to makes choices about her own health care and her right to privacy with that choice.This is his italicized statement: “I am personally pro-life, with exceptions, I do not support a national abortion ban, and I think we can be doing more to help women and working families.”I took a look at his voting record and although he purports to “doing more to help women and working families,” he consistently voted against the interests of women.
For instance, H.R. 7 would codify a ban on abortion coverage in health programs like Medicaid and effectively end private insurance coverage of abortion. Williams cosponsored this bill. Does this “help women and working families”?Another example is H.R. 26, which would politicize abortion and criminalize doctors for failing to comply with vague and unnecessary requirements. This bill was deliberately misleading and offensive to pregnant people and the doctors and nurses who provide their care. Williams voted for this bill. Does this “help women and working families”?One more example is H.Amdt.989 to H.R.8070. This was a Department of Defense policy supporting access to abortion for military servicemembers and their families by reimbursing expenses for those forced to travel to access reproductive healthcare. Williams voted to overturn this policy. Does this “help women and working families”?There are many more examples. Briefly, he refuses to support either the Right to Contraception Act or the Right to IVF Act, or either of their discharge petitions. Please note that four other New York Republicans are cosponsors of these bills.
By these examples, does Williams “help women and working families”?The answer, of course, is no. Even though he and his wife exercised their choice to maintain their pregnancy, he does not support the same choice for other American families. His voting record is proof.I encourage you to vote this November for John Mannion, who does, in fact and in reality, support helping women and working families.Judy JeromeSyracuse
To the Editor:
Rep. Brandon Williams is using false advertising in NY22 to scare us and mobilize Republican voters. That is because that is all he has going for him. He voted against every congressional bill designed to help people in our district. He failed to show up for events launching projects important to the economy in NY-22. When he finally held town hall meetings, he undemocratically refused to take questions. He gave us canned MAGA lectures.
Williams’s actions lead me to not believe his assertions that he would not support a national ban or significant restrictions on abortions if a bill came to the House floor under a Trump presidency.
I am voting for John Mannion because he will protect my daughters’ and granddaughters’ right to control their own bodies. I will vote for James Meyers and Al Stirpe because they will actually show up in our district, listen to us and continue to bring economic development to our region. And I will proudly vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz who are committed to protecting our democracy as they work to continue to grow our economy then flip my ballot and vote “yes” on Prop 1!
Jane M. O’Connell
Cazenovia
To the Editor:
Election Day can’t come soon enough — my eyeballs need a break from the endless political ads on TV and online.
I admit I’m frustrated seeing a true public servant like John Mannion, an educator, a family man and a leader in our community, get attacked by these dark money ads. They are lies — plain and simple. John has been a tireless advocate for Central New York and the Mohawk Valley — voting to cut our taxes, fund the police, and bring good jobs like Micron home. He is focused on the bread and butter issues that will make sure our region continues to grow and be affordable enough to raise a family and retire with dignity. He is focused on the people.
Meanwhile, our current Congressman Brandon Williams went to D.C. and voted to restrict abortion medication and allow doctors who perform abortions to be jailed. His Republican Study Committee colleagues favor the extreme Republican budget that cuts almost $3 trillion from Social Security and Medicare to give tax breaks to the wealthy. He is not focused on us.
Election Day is just 14 days out. Early voting starts this Saturday, Oct. 26, mail in and absentee ballots are already out. I encourage everyone to exercise their constitutional right and vote for the candidate who best represent your values. For me, that will be John Mannion.
Linda Ervin
Jamesville
The writer is a retired Onondaga County legislator.
To the Editor:
As the congressional election between Brandon Williams and John Mannion gets more and more contentious, a vital look at the state senate voting record of John Mannion needs to be brought out for examination. It is a voting record against the middle class.
Mannion voted for the Gov. Hochul proposal to open the door for reparations in New York state, following that of the radical New York City council which voted recently for reparations.
Mannion’s ads say that he voted to reduce taxed for the middle class. That is not true. He voted for Hochul’s radical proposal to bring unvetted and unproven EV school buses to New York school districts, and that huge additional expense along with the ancillary support for these very expensive buses are causing school districts throughout the state to explode for having to deploy these buses with mandatory deadlines. And we are paying for those higher school budgets
Mannion voted with Hochul to take away your right to purchase in the future the personal vehicle of your choice, the kitchen appliance of your choice, the heating and A/C system of your choice and even the type of fireplace you desire for your residence
What is most troubling is his lack of support for local law enforcement, in particular, protecting our law enforcement officers. For a number of years, I have contacted Mannion about supporting the death penalty for criminals who murder members of law enforcement, correctional officers and first responders. I particularly contacted him about this issue immediately following the unfortunate deaths of Syracuse Officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Hoosock. There was no reply from his office after a number of attempts.
Mannion has also been totally silent about the federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, where he can call on Hochul to remove Adams from office. Also he has been totally silent about a call for an investigation into the Communist Chinese spy that served on Hochul’s staff.
Considering his voting record and lack of accountability, Mannion does not deserve a seat in the House of Representatives representing Central New York.
Rudolph S. Boleslav
Syracuse
To the Editor:
It gets tiring to hear the misinformation from Brandon Williams regarding fentanyl coming into this country. I watched the second debate with John Mannion and was appalled by Williams’ dishonesty. He squarely placed the blame for the fentanyl crisis on immigrants bringing in the drugs from Mexico, knowing the passion that the immigration argument can arouse, no matter how disingenuous.
At the debate, Williams claimed this about the so-called open Southern border: “And this has led to a flood of fentanyl and other dangerous and addictive drugs…” squarely placing the blame on illegal immigrants.
Here are the facts from 2022 and 2023, according to the well-respected Cato Institute (supported by government data):
So not only is Williams dishonestly blaming illegal immigrants for the country’s fentanyl problem, but he is also doing so to the potential detriment of finding a real solution to illegal drugs coming across our Southern border.
Eric Holmes
Liverpool