Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) today was sworn into office by Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Craig J. Doran at a ceremony held in Albany. The new assemblyman is eager to apply his personal experience as a successful businessman in the North Country and an effective county legislator to state government.

“This year marks an incredibly important opportunity for us to work together with a new fervor to turn New York around and give it a chance to recover economically and shake off its troubled past,” said Blankenbush. “We need to give upstate families and businesses a fighting chance by getting government off their back. Let’s remove obstacles to job growth, like excessive job killing taxes and regulations, to start the upstate agricultural, tourism, independent small business and manufacturing economic engine. Let’s give the hardworking families of the North Country a break on their property taxes to make living in New York more attractive and affordable. For the past few decades, New York City politicians have been setting Albany’s agenda, but I will work tirelessly to bring North Country matters and common sense to the forefront of major issues facing our state. I am incredibly thankful to be in a position to give back to my community and have the confidence of so many good hardworking people back home.”

The new assemblyman holds firm in his commitment to job and economic recovery. Blankenbush looks forward to seeking out ways to improve the manufacturing and agricultural sectors in the North Country. He further would like to investigate how overregulation is negatively affecting small business growth and private-sector job creation in the upstate region.

Blankenbush joins 17 new incoming assembly members to create the larger 50-member Assembly Minority Conference led by Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua).