Walsh to seek reelection
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

Walsh

BATH - Four years ago, John Walsh spent the summer and fall driving a red pickup truck around Avoca, Fremont, Howard and Howard and Wheeler, campaigning to unseat a powerful Steuben County legislator and become the legislator himself for District 7.

The campaign worked. Walsh defeated Steuben County Republican Committee Chairman Walsh William Hatch in the Republican primary election, then went on to hold off Hatch's write-in campaign in the November election.

Now at the age of 67, Walsh is ready for another campaign, announcing last week he would seek re-election for a second four-year term on the Legislature.

In his first campaign, Walsh described himself as a proponent of economic development, complaining of high taxes and the lack of good jobs in the county.

He still complains of high taxes, but admits the drive for economic development has been difficult.

"I didn't think I'd be able to change much, and I guess I was right," he told the Courier last week. "The big

problem is still the taxes in the county. If we don't get good jobs in the area, we're driving our people away. It's hard to get good jobs. It's frustrating."

Walsh added he would use the next four years to support conservative fiscal policies on the part of the Legislature. "It's important not to cut too much in services, but you can't go crazy in raising taxes," he said. "It's nice to give away the store, but it can't be done."

He also said he plans to campgain in his red pickup truck.