Letter expresses old concern

Two months ago, I would have read this letter and said amen to one part of it.

Therein, a reader (and Darrel Aubertine supporter) takes state Sen. Patty Ritchie to task for letting her spokesman, Jim Reagen, do the talking for her.

Mrs. Ritchie is notoriously difficult to get a hold of. And her staff really doesn't like it when I'm around — it took me about 10 minutes of whining and stomping my feet to be allowed into an event that Mrs. Ritchie held with Long Island Sen. John Flanagan and a bunch of local education leaders in Watertown.

But, credit where credit is due. In the past month, Mrs. Ritchie has been very accessible — even going out of her way twice to call me for a story. Last week, her chief of staff called to let me know that a statement was on my way on the SUNY issue. I asked if I could talk to her instead. Within the hour, I was on the phone with her.

Originally, I think it was freshman jitters and an overabundance of caution. Lots of legislators are lawyers in previous lives, or held positions that require more public speaking than St. Lawrence County clerk.

So here's to Mrs. Ritchie coming into her own. And here's hoping the trend to more accessibility continues.