Bailey Lovenguth for Oswego County Legislature District 4

07/22/2026

This is who I support for the 49th NY State Senate. Someone who puts people and families ahead of party politics, who is truly of the northern part of NY (just like me), and a fellow woman who left home to grow as a person, but still chose to come back to upstate central NY because we love this place we call home. Along with Tim Allers and Alissa Ellman, we’re all local people who love our rural roots and rural communities.

Vote this November for a real home grown advantage for NY’s 24th Congressional District, 49th State Senate, 120th Assembly District, and Oswego County’s 4th Legislative District!

🎤 Candidate Conversation: Cassie Robbins-Forbus for New York State Senate District 49

One of the most important parts of any election is taking the time to hear directly from the candidates.

I recently sat down with Cassie Robbins-Forbus to talk about her campaign, what inspired her to run, and the issues she believes are most important to the people of the North Country.

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about who you are?

Hi, I'm Cassie Robbins-Forbus. I'm a Lewis County native, wife, mom, and community leader who has dedicated my career to public service through education, nonprofit leadership, and healthcare. I'm running for New York State Senate in District 49 because I believe the people of the North Country deserve a stronger voice in Albany, and I'm committed to listening, working together, and creating opportunities so every community in our region can live, thrive, and succeed.

2. What inspired you to run for the New York State Senate?

My inspiration for running for office comes from my love for the North Country and the people who call it home. I was raised here, left for a time to pursue my education and career, and chose to come back because I believe in this region and its future. Throughout my career in education, nonprofit leadership, and healthcare, I've had the privilege of working alongside people who care deeply about their communities and who simply want the opportunity to build a good life for their families.

I'm running because I believe the people who live here should have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their lives. My campaign is rooted in hope, collaboration, and the belief that when we listen to one another and work together, we can build stronger communities where everyone has the opportunity to live, thrive, and succeed.

3. Are there concerns that you think Albany doesn't fully understand about rural communities?

I think one of the biggest challenges is that many decisions are made with good intentions but without enough input from the people who live in rural communities. What works in a large city doesn't always work in the North Country, where our communities are spread out, services are farther away, and people often have to travel long distances for healthcare, work, education, or even basic necessities.

I also think Albany sometimes overlooks the strengths of rural communities. We are resilient, resourceful, and deeply connected. We know how to solve problems together because we've had to. The people who live here understand the challenges we face, but we also understand the opportunities.

That's why my campaign is centered on listening. Before I advocate for solutions, I want to hear directly from the people in every town, village, and city across District 49. The best policies aren't created FOR communities, they're created WITH communities. My goal is to make sure the North Country has a voice in shaping the decisions that affect our future.

4. If elected, what would be your top three priorities during your first year in office?

If elected, my top three priorities during my first year in office would be strengthening rural healthcare, supporting our EMS workforce, and expanding reliable, affordable broadband access.
First, we must protect and strengthen our rural healthcare system. Our hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers are under tremendous strain, and many residents travel long distances to access care. We need to ensure rural communities have sustainable healthcare services close to home.

Second, I want to focus on the future of emergency medical services. Across the North Country, volunteer EMS agencies are struggling to recruit and retain members. We need to explore sustainable funding and create more opportunities for paid EMS positions so that every community can count on timely emergency response.

Finally, affordable, reliable high-speed broadband is essential infrastructure for the future of the North Country. It connects our students to learning, our patients to healthcare, our farms and small businesses to new markets, and our communities to opportunity. Expanding broadband can also help attract remote workers, entrepreneurs, and new businesses looking for the quality of life our region offers. If we want to grow our economy, strengthen our workforce, and encourage more people to build their lives here, we must invest in internet service that is dependable, accessible, and affordable for every community.
These priorities all share a common goal: ensuring that where you live doesn't determine the quality of healthcare you receive, the emergency services available to you, or your ability to work, learn, and succeed.

5. How can we create opportunities that encourage young people to stay here after graduation?

Our young people leave because they often feel they have to, not because they don’t love this place. We need to make sure staying is a choice by creating good jobs, supporting entrepreneurs, expanding workforce training, and investing in the services and infrastructure families need. The goal isn’t just to keep young people here; it’s to give them a reason to come home and build the next chapter of the North Country.

6. Many families are worried about rising costs. What do you believe would make the biggest difference for working families?

Affordability looks different in the North Country, and too often our families and seniors are left behind. We need to address the rising costs of healthcare, housing, childcare, and energy while investing in good-paying jobs and local businesses. We also need to make sure rural communities have the same opportunities as anywhere else in New York, including reliable broadband, strong public services, and infrastructure that supports families and businesses. When families can thrive, our communities thrive.

7. If someone is still undecided about this race, what do you hope they know about you before they cast their vote?

If you’re undecided, I hope you know that this race is about more than one person, it’s about the future of the North Country. I am someone who deeply loves this community and believes in its future. I’m a Lewis County native who left to learn, grow, and gain new experiences, but I chose to come home because this is where I belong. I’m not running to be a career politician; I’m running to be a public servant. I know the challenges our families face because I live here too, and I believe our communities deserve a voice that listens, collaborates, and fights for the future we all want, a place where our children, our neighbors, and future generations can live, thrive, and succeed.

8. How can people become involved in your campaign?

There are so many ways to be part of this campaign, and every bit of support makes a difference. You can join us by marching in a parade, knocking doors, volunteering at events, making a donation, or simply sharing our message with your friends and neighbors. Visit our website, follow us on Facebook and TikTok, and help start conversations in your community. This campaign is about building a movement together, because our communities deserve a choice—and that choice starts with all of us.

Thank you to Cassie for taking the time to share her perspective and discuss the issues that matter to District 49.

I encourage everyone—regardless of political affiliation—to learn about the candidates, ask questions, and make an informed decision when you vote.

To learn more or get involved with Cassie's campaign:

📧 Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: https://cassieforsenate49.com/
📘 Facebook: Cassie Robbins-Forbus for NYS Senate District 49
🎵 TikTok:

07/21/2026

I’ve had people in the community ask me, why did you decide to run for office? I responded, who else will? We’ve seen one party control of this county for over 50 years, and during that time our county has steadily gone downhill. I care about national politics, but local effects is what concerns me. If after 50 years our small towns have continued to shrink, businesses have left, and school populations have shrunk, I ask how we can reverse course?

I’m just a blue collar worker, but I was raised with the old school mindset of “If you want the job done right, do it yourself.” Now I say, “If the people in charge haven’t done the job right in 50 years, isn’t it time to try something new?”

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I’m very sane; I want a different result, so I want to try something different. Investing in our small communities, not our big rich families. Small town projects, small town growth, and community teamwork that grows connections and family.

What are some ideas you have to grow our county, as well as District 4? Send me a message, comment below, or come out to one of my town halls or events over the next 4 months. Let’s make a plan to improve our community, and not a plan to let it continue to wither in the fields.

07/17/2026

My condolences go out to our neighbors to the North, who are dealing with extreme brush fires that are just miles upon miles of devastation. We are dealing with the aftermath, which many will describe as “just smoke”. To use a simple analogy I saw, when you make a bonfire to cook s’mores over, you wouldn’t put gasoline on the wood to get it going. That’s dangerous.

Similarly, these fires have destroyed factories, waste treatment facilities, homes, etc. if you don’t know what could be in that smoke, protect yourself. Having freedom is important, but we can’t be free-dumb. Masks are an inconvenience, but way less of one than having toxic shock to your lungs or heart.

07/03/2026

Hot, muggy weather like this is truly a revealer of how people treat others. Out here running errands, had to go to the Cicero Wegmans. As I go to put my car in the corral, I can’t get it in because so many people have pushed little carts in haphazardly, and the corral is a mess. It took me about a minute to clean up the corral, and put my card away, being inconsiderate to the cart workers and baggers who are going to have to be out in this heat all day long. As I’m leaving the corral, my father has his kid, bring the cart back to the rail, and he just shoves it in. I took and moved it to where it belongs.

It takes a second to make someone’s day easier, or harder. Choose kindness every chance you can, because that kindness will come back to you tenfold.

06/30/2026

Now that petitioning and primary season is over with, it’s time to move on to the most important phase of running for office; campaigning and meeting people of the community. While I knocked on many doors, now is the time to plan events that let the residents of District 4 meet the woman and parent seeking to represent them at the county level.

I’ve resided in Amboy for 39 of my 50 years of life, and there’s a reason for that; I love my community. The spirit of “it takes a village”, to work together to improve life for our society and population, is ingrained in me. I’ve carried that spirit and blue collar mentality throughout my career, whether working in retail, vending, home delivery, and bus driving, my goal is always to take a system that works and make it work better. I firmly believe I can do the same for District 4! As a parent to two APW graduates, and a devoted theater mom who believes in teamwork to help take care of a lot of people, attention to detail is a core philosophy for my work, and I will bring that to the legislature.

I will NOT be a politician who makes promises and then blindly back a party line; the people of my district comes before any party. The people of the district, no matter their political affiliation, are my party. I want to fight to get aid and growth to anyone and everyone who may need it.

Stay tuned as we work to get organized town halls, community gatherings, and other locations where you can pick my brain, see what I think can benefit our community, and tell me what you think can help your neighbors. I will run this campaign with accessibility, accountability, and integrity!