In office for 100 days, Russell savors her role

ALBANY — Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell doesn't mince her words. When asked recently whether she likes her new job, the Democrat from Theresa emphatically said, "Absolutely."

After winning a hotly contested election for the 118th Assembly District seat last November, Mrs. Russell recently passed the "milestone" of her first 100 days in office. While the mark holds no specific significance, it is often a point at which new politicians are evaluated.

So far, Mrs. Russell clearly relishes her experience in Albany.

"It has been rewarding because of the input into the process I've been able to have," she said. "I've been able to point out the rural perspective on a variety of issues."

These issues include reducing cuts to agricultural programs, opposing the idea of making local offices like town supervisor and highway superintendent appointed positions rather than elected, and revisiting the productivity ratios in the Empire Zones program.

Mrs. Russell serves on five Assembly committees: Agriculture; Banks, Corporations, Authorities and Commissions; Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Local Governments and Veterans' Affairs.

Her district includes the St. Lawrence County towns of Massena, Louisville, Waddington, Lisbon, Potsdam, Canton, Oswegatchie, Macomb, Morristown and Hammond, and the city of Ogdensburg, along with the Jefferson County towns of Antwerp, Theresa, Alexandria, Philadelphia, Orleans, Clayton, Cape Vincent, Lyme, Brownville and Pamelia, and the city of Watertown.

But are freshmen legislators relevant in a Legislature with many long-serving, politically powerful members? Can the freshmen make a difference? Once again, Mrs. Russell replied with an "Absolutely." She said her colleagues have sought her opinion and perspective on budgetary and other issues, and her willingness to speak up and take a position has garnered her the attention of other legislators and legislative leaders.

"You get out of it what you put into it," she said. "The more active you are, the more attention you bring to an issue."

For her next 100 days and beyond, Mrs. Russell has her agenda down — keeping an eye on New York's financial picture while working on non-budget issues.

"We need to be vigilant on whether the economy is rebounding and whether to make budget adjustments this year," she said. "We will be fixated on revenues and expenses all throughout the year, and will likely spend more time discussing numbers and following the numbers."

Among other issues at the top of her list of priorities is legislation to create a North Country Power Authority, which would provide electrical power services to most of the municipalities in St. Lawrence County and a few in Franklin County.

"In the long run, this will save consumers money as it will be a nonprofit entity," Mrs. Russell said. This bill, A.6694A, has passed the Assembly twice, under the sponsorship of former assemblyman and current state Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, in 2007, and Dierdre K. Scozzafava, R-Gouverneur, last year. Mr. Aubertine is sponsoring the Senate version of the bill, S.2813.

"I am hopeful it will pass," Mrs. Russell said, noting that the bill has to pass through three more Assembly committees before it can be put up for a full-chamber vote. "I'm working with committee chairs to move it through the process to the floor."

Her other immediate priorities include home rule legislation involving leasing land to the Watertown YMCA, the reauthorization of Jefferson County's 0.75 percent sales tax and redesignating the Chaumont River as an "inland waterway" in order to foster waterfront redevelopment.

Mrs. Russell said she is ready to continue working with her fellow Assembly members in Albany to address the needs of her north country constituents.

"I feel I did have a great impact in the Democratic Assembly conference in both funding and policy issues," Mrs. Russell said. "A lot of people don't realize how much input individual legislators have."