BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week
POTSDAM — The village mayoral race on the ballot this fall will feature a write-in candidate.
Joseph Bowen is running as an independent and hopes to bring new ideas on how to make Potsdam more “self-determinate” and healthy for business and residents. Bowen, formerly of Akwesasne, has resided at Meadow East Apartments since February.
Bowen brings an education in business and experience in tribal government to the table and hopes to improve the village’s business climate if elected as mayor.
He will face the Democratic Party nominee Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, a currently sitting village trustee elected to that position in 2019 and the SUNY Potsdam public relations director.
North Country This Week recently asked both candidates a few questions on the minds of some voters, and inquired about the candidates’ stance on several issues facing the electorate.
Bowen said he is running for the position to work to make Potsdam “1 percent better every day.” And, while he said there isn’t a specific experience he has had with government (good or bad) which inspired him to get involved in local politics, he feels he can bring fresh ideas to the table.
“I am running for office to implement a positive change within the community. I love the North Country and want to see our little area thrive to the potential that I have grown to love. I do not have a good or bad political story as we all face challenges differently but I also believe that everyone comes to a dinner table with a different offering, and that is my hope, a different offering,” Bowen said.
Bowen said one of the biggest issues currently facing the village is what appears to be a lack of planning for the future.
“Some would say they have a five -ear or even a ten-year plan. I do not,” Bowen said. “I have a ‘right now’ plan. Right now it seems we are dying with keeping small businesses in town, right now our economic welfare is leaving the…
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