Candidate Name: Tracy Mitrano
What office are you running for?
Congress, NY-23
With which party are you running for office?
Democratic Party
Election Date
11/03/2020
Why are you running for office?
I was moved to step up and enter politics after watching our government’s inability to adequately address, stop or even comprehend the foreign interference in our 2016 elections, as well as the near daily attacks on our digital infrastructure in the form of ransomware and more. If elected to Congress today, I’d be the only Member of Congress in either party with a background in cybersecurity policy.
What is the biggest issue facing your community and how do you propose helping?
My district (NY-23) is huge, made up of 11 rural counties, comprising rural farming communities, manufacturing towns, college towns and more. Each community has it’s own issues – some unique and some overlapping. Farming communities are being hollowed out by the price of dairy, which is impacted by the trade war, but by other system factors. Many rural communities are being decimated by the opioid crisis. If I were to choose one issue for the whole district, the extreme and unpredictable weather patterns brought on by our changing climate would be that issue. As far as how to help: we need to both better prepare our communities, farmers, businesses for the changes that are already happening, as well as set ambitious goals for moving from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources.
How do we fix the partisan divide in our country and start working together again?
Overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision and pass serious campaign finance reform to take the corrupting influence of dark money out of politics. Until we do that, its difficult to see how our Representatives in Congress can begin to represent their constituents and only their constituents.
Who is your hero?
Susan B. Anthony for her tireless activism for the rights of women and against slavery in the US.
What is the most recent book you read?
These Truths: A History of the United States by Jill Lepore
Do you have any kids/pets/talking houseplants?
I have two grown children, Sam and Nikko. I also have a seven month old puppy named Teddy (after Teddy Roosevelt, of course).
How can our readers get involved in your campaign?
Follow us and share our content on Facebook and Twitter; Donate at mitrano2020.com/donate; sign up for our emails at mitrano2020.com/signup; and sign up to volunteer at mitrano2020.com/volunteer.
Candidate Social Media:
Website | Twitter | Facebook
Post created from answers submitted by candidate to our Meet the Candidate survey.
