Tim Vollmer for St. Lawrence County District 11

11/09/2022

Well this night didn't turn out the way I'd hoped, but I can feel proud that I ran this race the right way. Early results lead to low Democratic voter turnout across the district which is a frustrating way to lose, especially with such a low margin. When you're running a down ballot race that just feels out of your hands.

Congratulations to Glenn, I wish him and the other incoming legislators luck, their success is our success. I hope they remember why they're there, to serve the citizens of St Lawrence County.

11/08/2022

GO. VOTE. Polls are open! 6am - 9pm. It takes about 20 seconds to look up your polling place, and not much longer to actually go vote.

Please enter your Last Name, First Name, Date of Birth (MM/DD/YYYY format), County and Address information and press the "Search" button.

11/07/2022

Get out the vote rally in Massena for Matt Castelli . Get out there tomorrow people, do the thing.

11/06/2022

People have asked me my thoughts on Matt Castelli several times this year, and having the good fortune of speaking to him 4 or 5 times I can say without reservation that he's the strongest candidate the North Country has had in a long time and you should vote for him. This picture is the result of Matt driving for three hours on a Sunday night to go to an outdoor event in Massena that was cold, rainy, and windy, and then staying late to help clean up when all the voters had already left despite his three hour drive home.

Matt's intelligent and level headed. You don't serve as the head of counter terrorism on the national security council under both Democratic and Republican administrations by being a political player. I asked him a question about my favorite pet issue (ranked choice voting), and I felt confident that he was giving me his honest opinion and that it wasn't a canned response. He was also honest about not being an expert on the subject which is HUGE to me; I want elected officials who can admit when they need more information before making a decision rather than ones who pick a side and dig their heels in regardless of the facts that come to light.

I also cannot stress this enough, Matt believes in Democracy. It's astounding that whether or not the results of a democratic election should be honored is on the ballot this year, but it is. Elise Stefanik pretended to be a moderate to get elected in 2014, she's MAGA now, and that's because she'll do whatever it takes to climb the political ladder, including gladly ignoring your vote if that's the fielty Trump demands. Matt Castelli believes your vote matters, Stefanik does not. Vote as though your ability to vote depends on it.

11/05/2022

Door to door in the Village of Potsdam today. I'll be out again tomorrow, which will mark roughly 30 out of 34 days I've been canvassing (just about all of them minus the days with Legislature meetings). It's been a great experience, I won't be able to get to every house in the district but I tried my best.

11/04/2022

34 minutes and 14 seconds.

I've been door knocking from 5 to dark every day (except for during legislature meetings) for weeks, and the last two days I've been calling folks after that. Last night I had my best call yet.

I'll let him stay anonymous, but I talked to this person through his obvious frustration with the state of politics at both the federal and state level, which I often share. He was incredibly patient staying on with me while we talked about issues from gun control, heating and energy, unemployment benefits, and many others. It was a great example of how once you're able to talk to someone one on one and work past the frustration and partisans politics most of our views usually aren't that far apart.

If you see this, thanks again for giving me the opportunity to do that.

11/03/2022

County Legislator candidate Tim Vollmer discusses his ability to work across the isle during a time of political polarization. Hear more about it in this excerpt from my interview with North-Country Matters

The full interview can be found here: https://youtu.be/RgJ0Cz6rEeI

11/02/2022

And the coolest ones vote early. After one of our great Board of Elections commissioners Jennie Bacon posted this painting by Lynell Ingram I had to order a print as an early stocking stuffer. My wife Catherine was already cool this election cycle and you can be too. Early voting is happening now on Maple Street in Potsdam, 9-5 today and Friday-Sunday, and 9-8 tomorrow.

11/02/2022

Applications are now open for HEAP home heating benefits. This year home heating is going to be a major difficulty for a lot of families in the North Country, and HEAP can be up to $900 depending on your living situation and fuel type. The income limits for qualifying are also higher than many would expect, so don't leave money on the table. Every dollar of HEAP benefits that comes back into the county from the coffers in Albany is another dollar for our local economy.

The monthly income limit is based on people per household.
1 - $2,852 ($34,224 annual)
2 - $3,730 ($44,760)
3 - $4,608 ($55,296)
4 - $5,485 ($65,820)
5 - $6,363 ($76,356)
6 - $7,241 ($86,892)
7 - $7,405 ($88,860)
8 - $7,570 ($90,840)
9 - $7,734 ($92,808)
10 - $7,899 ($94,788)
11 - $8,064 ($96,768)

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in New York opened for regular benefits Tuesday, Nov. 1. St. Lawrence County residents can call (315) 379-2303 to receive an application.

10/31/2022

Many families in St Lawrence county are going to have trouble heating their homes this winter. The county should be very proactive this year in getting people access to HEAP benefits, and should also investigate whether or not it'd be feasible to reduce or eliminate the tax on home heating oil. Additionally, the county should also be helping its residents get off fuel oil and onto lower cost high efficiency systems. Hear more about it in this excerpt from my interview with North-Country Matters

The full interview can be found here: https://youtu.be/RgJ0Cz6rEeI

10/29/2022

Early voting is open. Wherever you live in St Lawrence County you have two early voting locations, 42 Maple St Potsdam and 100 Riverside Ave Ogdensburg. Don't wait, make your voice heard.