LAKE PLACID, New York (WWNY) – Democratic congressional candidate Stuart Amoriell outlined his priorities during a live interview as early voting approaches for the June 23 primary election.
Amoriell, a Lake Placid restaurant owner, faces Blake Gendebien in the Democratic primary for the 21st Congressional District seat currently held by Elise Stefanik.
The candidate joined Jeff Cole at the Digital News Desk to discuss his campaign and policy positions.
Background and campaign launch
Amoriell said he is a resident of Lake Placid and owns a restaurant called The Pickled Pig with his wife. He is a father of two daughters, ages 9 and 13.
“And about six months ago, I was frustrated with the struggles of my neighbors, the direction of this country,” Amoriell said. “And I decided on December 3rd from John Brown Farm to launch my campaign for Congress.”
Cole asked about Amoriell’s political experience.
Amoriell said he studied political science at Loyola in Maryland and international relations in Leuven, Belgium. He was a congressional intern and has been building businesses since then.
“I’ve been on our school board where my daughter went to elementary school,” Amoriell said. “I am on the board of directors for a nonprofit, Eagle Island, which is out of Saranac Lake, that is an overnight summer camp that extends that experience to a lot of marginalized, low-income girls across the state of New York.”
District priorities
Cole asked what Amoriell is learning about the 21st Congressional District.
“It is huge. It’s one of the largest districts east of the Mississippi. It is the largest in New York State,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said there is diversity from the Mohawk Valley in the southwest to the Champlain Valley in the northeast.
“But I’ll tell you, as I have traveled the district, all corners of this district, and had the pleasure of talking with neighbors in the towns and villages, we really hear the same thing,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said people are frustrated with a diminishing quality of life and living in a system rigged against them.
“They are tired of paying more, working harder and harder year after year, only to fall further and further behind,” Amoriell said.
Campaign challenges
Cole asked how Amoriell is getting his name out in such a large district.
Amoriell said there are complexities with a district this size. He said a meeting in Rome, New York, requires nearly four hours of driving each way for an hour or an hour-and-a-half meeting.
“But, you know, that’s how the process works,” Amoriell said. “I think one of the issues that we have as a country is that the people’s voices are not being heard.”
Amoriell said representatives must be available to people so they can express their concerns and struggles.
“So my goal is to meet them where they are, wherever that is,” Amoriell said. “And that does include a lot of driving, but this is the only way their voice is heard.”
Party support
Cole asked about support from county chairs and leaders in the 15 counties.
“I would say the people are in my corner. The voters are in my corner,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he got into the race six months ago, while his opponent got in nearly two years ago.
“So when I got in, I would say the establishment had already made their choice for who they wanted to be the nominee for New York 21,” Amoriell said. “They actually asked me not to run because they preferred not to have a primary.”
Amoriell said he got involved because he was frustrated by the struggles facing his neighbors and the direction of the country.
“My last concern when I stood up from John Brown Farm on December 3rd, the last concern I had was fundraising, party bosses, or, you know, endorsements,” Amoriell said.
Healthcare priority
Cole asked what makes Amoriell different from his opponent.
“People often ask me, if you can be known for one thing during your time in Congress, if there’s one committee that you could pick, what would it be?” Amoriell said. “And I would say I would love to be a part of solving the healthcare crisis in our country.”
Amoriell said the country is facing an existential crisis.
“Among developed countries, we are 30th in life expectancy, and we are last in infant and maternal mortality,” Amoriell said. “We are last.”
Amoriell said the country needs to come together and solve the problem.
“Which is why I believe that we need universal healthcare that treats healthcare as a basic human right, not a privilege of the luxury,” Amoriell said. “We must make a public option available for all Americans that sets us on a path for a single-payer system.”
Similarities with opponent
Cole asked where Amoriell and Gendebien match up.
“I would say, you know, in recognizing that we have struggling neighbors, that we have neighbors across the expanse of New York 21 that are struggling with utilities,” Amoriell said. “They are struggling with healthcare, with the price of gas.”
Amoriell said Gendebien is a farmer and small business owner who understands the impact of the administration on quality of life.
“So I think both of us get that,” Amoriell said. “We are both running on a Democratic ticket because we want to make life better, not worse, for our communities.”
Bill Owens comparison
Cole asked if Amoriell had conversations with retired Congressman Bill Owens, who held the seat as a Democrat.
Amoriell said Owens won in 2009 when the right had a split ticket with someone running on the Republican line and Doug Hoffman running on the conservative line.
“That split the right and that enabled Bill Owens to go on to victory,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said the same scenario may happen this time.
“Not only do I think that we’re going to see a blue wave, people that are fed up with the direction of this country because of the administration that we have, but I think we’re going to see two people on the right that also divide the ticket,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he was an independent for decades before becoming a registered Democrat.
“And that’s because I’ve always put policy above party,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he may or may not line up with Owens depending on the issue.
“Certainly, I think with healthcare and a single payer solution, I don’t think that is a policy that Bill supported, but I wouldn’t want to speak for him,” Amoriell said.
Political inspiration
Cole asked who inspires Amoriell as a politician.
“I think it’s hard to answer that question without calling up Barack Obama,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said Obama brought people into engagement and gave people a sense of hope.
“You know, when Barack Obama ran, he ran under similar situations,” Amoriell said. “He ran when people were frustrated, lost in despair over endless wars and financial collapse. Things that we are seeing today.”
Amoriell said the country needs someone who can stand up and give hope to the American people.
“And I think that is the problem that we’ve seen for generations,” Amoriell said. “Why we are where we are is in part because of complacency of the public. They’re not showing up to vote.”
Amoriell said people did not show up because they felt their voice was not heard, and they lost hope.
“And once you lose hope, nothing can happen. Hope is a prerequisite of change,” Amoriell said.
Voter sentiment
Cole asked about the temperature of voters across the district.
“Yes, absolutely,” Amoriell said. “I mean, I think we’re seeing that, you know, in the polls that we see in the media. And I certainly see it when I’m out there across the district talking to voters.”
Amoriell said he is running into people who voted for Trump and regret it.
“I thought that he was going to deliver lower prices. I thought he was going to end foreign wars,” Amoriell said. “And they’re saying this is all we’re seeing from him is prices going up.”
Amoriell said people are frustrated with tariffs that drive prices higher and wars in Venezuela, Cuba, Iran and threats to Greenland.
“So I think people are absolutely frustrated with this administration, rightly so,” Amoriell said. “And they are looking for a change.”
Iran policy
Cole asked about Amoriell’s stance on the war with Iran.
“You know, so I think Iran is another- The conflict in Iran is another example of a war of choice,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said these are wars that will never cease until the country ends its dependence on foreign oil.
“Now, you know, let’s be clear. Iran was an enemy of the United States. And they still are,” Amoriell said. “They are also an enemy of regional peace. And they are an enemy of peace around the world. But they were not an imminent threat.”
Amoriell said the actions of one unstable man who unilaterally and against the Constitution engaged the country in another conflict have made Americans less safe.
“So I think it is well past time for Congress to stop abdicating its constitutional responsibility, exercise its war powers authority, and tell this administration it is time to end the Iranian conflict,” Amoriell said.
Cole asked how Amoriell would respond to supporters who say he does not know everything the president knows about security briefings.
“I mean, I think that is always their argument,” Amoriell said. “Let’s use something that nobody can disprove us in terms of our actions.”
Amoriell said the president said after his son-in-law met with Iran that he had a gut feeling they might do something.
“And I would say national security policy and national security decisions are not supposed to be made on gut feelings,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said the president should have engaged Congress.
Amoriell said the president also said he was not told Iran might shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
“I mean, governments, both Republican and Democratic governments for decades have known that that was a likely outcome if we engaged in a war with Iran,” Amoriell said.
Campaign assessment
Cole asked if Amoriell had done polling.
“No. I mean, the way that we know how well we’re doing is really based on the feedback that we get from those folks that join us at town halls, that show up at our events,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he got into the race only six months ago because he had no ambition to run for Congress.
“I got into this because I was sick and tired of what I was seeing, both in our communities and on the national stage,” Amoriell said. “And I think I wanted to step up and do what I could to try to be a part of the solution.”
Amoriell said people need to step up, whether by running for office, joining a nonprofit, or working for food pantries.
“This is why I got in the campaign. And I really judge our success based on the feedback that I’m getting from our supporters,” Amoriell said.
Energy costs
Cole asked if a congressional person has an answer for high energy prices in New York State.
“Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I think this is going to take an answer on all levels, local, state, and federal,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said those on the right say it is impossible to have affordable energy and a sustainable green future.
“And I’ll tell you, Jeff, that is a lie,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said neighbors struggled to keep the lights on and heat their houses last winter while National Grid posted record profits of 25% margins.
“So absolutely. It is not. It’s just an example of the system rigged against us,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said on the federal level, the country needs to recommit and invest in long-term green energy solutions that increase the supply of energy.
“We need to reinvest in long-term green energy solutions like hydro, solar, wind, and, yes, small modular reactors, nuclear energy,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said the country also needs to invest in short and medium-term energy solutions of all sources, including fossil fuels.
“Not like what we saw this winter, and absolutely energy that is produced on the valuable lands of northern New York needs to first be used to serve our communities before it is piped to other areas of the state and country,” Amoriell said.
New York energy policy
Cole asked about New York State’s energy policy and whether the state should pause or continue its green energy path.
“And I think with many things, it’s about finding the right balance,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said the state needs to invest in the future and commit to green energy solutions, but also make sure utilities are affordable today.
“We cannot make life more difficult than it already is for our struggling working families, our neighbors, our struggling seniors,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said Washington and the state government should not do anything that makes life more difficult for working families and neighbors.
“Does it make life better or worse for our communities and families?” Amoriell said. “And the same thing applies to utilities.”
Amoriell said he does not think the country should invest in long-term fossil fuel solutions.
“So short and medium term makes sense. But long term does not, because we need to eventually migrate to green energy solutions,” Amoriell said.
Immigration and border
Cole asked about immigration and the border.
Amoriell said he is not hearing the same thing Cole referenced about Democrats supporting enforcement.
“I believe that, you know, Donald Trump, you know, got elected to an extent because of his immigration policy,” Amoriell said. “But those that supported what he said he was going to do, when he was running for office this time around, are again upset and frustrated with how it’s actually being implemented.”
Amoriell said Trump told people he would go after criminals, but that is not what is happening.
Amoriell said one of the tipping points for getting in the race was when an employee named Emmanuel was picked up by ICE.
“He was legally authorized to live and work in the United States,” Amoriell said. “One day, he got picked up and stopped by ICE, and he was brought to a detention center in Plattsburgh.”
Amoriell said he thought it would be no big deal because Emmanuel had his paperwork, but ICE pressured him to sign a document to self-deport.
“They said if he didn’t sign it, they were going to send him to a prison in El Salvador,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he hired an attorney for Emmanuel, but ICE shipped him to Batavia and told him he would sit in a jail cell for one year waiting for an immigration court.
“This is a 20-year-old kid that was here legally. He had his papers to live and work here,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said when he learned what the government was doing, he decided to run for office.
“So I absolutely think that what we’re seeing right now is a disgrace,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said those on the right say immigrants are bad for America, communities, and economies.
“Let me be clear. That argument is nothing but a racist lie,” Amoriell said. “We have the statistics. Law-abiding immigrants are good for our communities, and they are good for our economies.”
Amoriell said the country needs immigrants in small businesses and schools.
“And it is well past time that we, yes, secure our borders. We protect Americans. But we do so in a manner that respects the dignity of all people and the values that have guided this nation for almost 250 years,” Amoriell said.
Campaign goals
Cole asked about goals for the next couple of weeks before the primary.
“Yeah, I’d say my goal over the next two weeks is the same as my goal from December 4th, the day after I launched the campaign, which is to stay out there in the communities,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he wants to meet with voters and neighbors, talk about issues and struggles, and put forth solutions.
“Listen, you know, we live in a democracy. And a democracy means people are going to have disagreements. And that’s good,” Amoriell said.
Amoriell said he wants to make sure that on election day, everyone in the district knows exactly where he stands.
“And I am going to spend every single day until election day, making sure that that happens,” Amoriell said.
Post-primary unity
Cole asked if Amoriell would support Gendebien if Gendebien wins the primary.
“Absolutely,” Amoriell said. “I put out an open letter a couple weeks ago saying, uh, yes, once the primary is done, uh, we need to come together and support the party and support the candidate that prevails.”
Amoriell said if Gendebien wins, he would be happy to stand side by side on the campaign trail and provide support.
“I think this is an important part of democracy,” Amoriell said. “And I’ll tell you, um, you know, I’ve gotten to know Blake on the campaign trail. We’re at a lot of the same events together.”
Amoriell said he and Gendebien have professional and mutual respect for each other.
Primary night plans
Cole asked where Amoriell will be on primary night.
“Yeah, my gut tells me that I’ll be at the restaurant, The Pickled Pig, uh, in Lake Placid, uh, sharing the experience with my, uh, my family, our team, and our neighbors,” Amoriell said.
The primary election is June 23.
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