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Otsego County Representative

District 7

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1
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: Otsego County's Board of Representatives is the county legislature; it adopts the county budget and local laws, and each representative casts a weighted vote.

CandidatesCompare by issue

James McCartney

Republican, Conservative

The gist

  • Supports using surplus money to cut property taxes
  • Supports investing in roads, bridges and broadband
  • Pledges to seek resident input before major decisions
More about James
View sources (1)

  1. Supports using surplus money to cut property taxes

    Otsego County Board of Representatives Candidates: In Their Words

    Candidate questionnaire · AllOtsego · Oct 30, 2025 · allotsego.com

    “Another portion should go toward reducing the tax burden on property owners.”

  2. Supports investing in roads, bridges and broadband

    Otsego County Board of Representatives Candidates: In Their Words

    Candidate questionnaire · AllOtsego · Oct 30, 2025 · allotsego.com

    “I would prioritize reinvesting a portion into long-term infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and broadband”

  3. Pledges to seek resident input before major decisions

    Otsego County Board of Representatives Candidates: In Their Words

    Candidate questionnaire · AllOtsego · Oct 30, 2025 · allotsego.com

    “will actively seek input from residents before major decisions are made.”

Leslie Berliant

Democratic, Working FamiliesIncumbent

The gist

  • Opposes a county fuel subsidy for trash hauler Casella
  • Supports enforcing county credit-card receipt rules
  • Supports investing in affordable senior and workforce housing
  • Supports raising county salaries to fill social worker vacancies
More about Leslie
View sources (3)

  1. Opposes a county fuel subsidy for trash hauler Casella

    County Board Hears Airport Update, Debates Casella Fuel Subsidies

    News coverage · AllOtsego · Jul 13, 2026 · allotsego.com

    “Berliant saying she could not support a large corporation while towns and villages in Otsego County are consistently dealing with budgetary shortfalls”

  2. Supports enforcing county credit-card receipt rules

    Board Debates Policy Violations, Hears Update on New Property

    News coverage · AllOtsego · Aug 13, 2026 · allotsego.com

    “This is taxpayer money that’s being spent and we have no documentation to show what that taxpayer money is being spent on.”

  3. Supports investing in affordable senior and workforce housing

    Otsego County Board of Representatives Candidates: In Their Words

    Candidate questionnaire · AllOtsego · Oct 30, 2025 · allotsego.com

    “investments in affordable senior and workforce housing to help people live, work, and retire locally.”

  4. Supports raising county salaries to fill social worker vacancies

    Otsego County Board of Representatives Candidates: In Their Words

    Candidate questionnaire · AllOtsego · Oct 30, 2025 · allotsego.com

    “raising county salaries to attract the best talent and fill critical positions like social workers and recovery staff that are currently vacant”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.