Lori Wahila is the Democratic candidate for Town of Union Supervisor. Wahila has been a professor and FT adjunct instructor at Broome Community College (BCC) for over 30 years, specializing in finance and accounting, engineering and computer science. Outside of BCC, Wahila owns a computer training and consulting company, where she assists in planning and launching startup companies. Wahila also provides software training to various business’ workforces, such as International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and Lockheed Martin, and has written database programs for institutions such as Binghamton University.

What motivated you to run for this position?

“I am the 3rd generation to have called this area home. I am the granddaughter of four immigrants who settled here from Italy to make a better life for themselves. I now have two grown sons who also chose to come back here after being away for many years for college. All of these things make me passionate about making this area be the vibrant, technology-forward and welcoming place I knew it to be growing up. I want to put ‘public servant’ back into what it means to run for office and to represent my constituents. I simply want to make this area the best that it can be for all who choose to call this their home by doing all I can to help its citizens thrive. Knowing that we need to attract and help new businesses to establish here and keep existing businesses and their workforce successful.”

How does your background and previous experience make you a good candidate for this position?

“My background is in finance, accounting, engineering and computer science. I have been a professor at SUNY Broome for 30+ years teaching these topics, but have also worked in the community and in industry all over Upstate NY as a sole proprietor in a business I started in 1997. I work with companies to get them started and then set them up to succeed. Whether it is with their finances or with understanding and working with technologies. I’ve worked with the EAP (Entrepreneurial Assistance Program) at SUNY Broome and with the Small Business Association (SBA) to help small and medium businesses get started in this area, and giving them help when needed to succeed. I’ve helped train workers on necessary softwares from big businesses like Lockheed Martin, IBM and Raytheon to new workers through Broome-Tioga Workforce programs. I have also designed and written database programs for many companies, including a few for Binghamton University. I hope to use my expertise to help the Town of Union run efficiently, to ensure taxpayer monies are spent wisely, and to take advantage of all the monies coming to the area in the near future for new, clean, energy technologies. We can make this area a technology leader again as it was in its heyday with IBM, but we need leaders who know and understand these technologies, who can work with industry, and who will ensure the safety of its citizens.”

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the Union, and what would you do to address it if elected?

“What I see as the biggest challenge facing the Town of Union is going to be our ability to take full advantage of the $113 million that is coming into our area for battery and other clean technologies. We will need the infrastructure to support these new businesses and the workers. We will need to train a workforce, using our local citizens and workers who will relocate to our area. We will need to have housing for these workers and their families to live. So housing and affordable housing is going to be a big issue.”

What do you offer the students and youth of Broome County and why should they vote for you?

“What I offer the students and youth of Broome County is a leader who will be working hard toward a brighter future for them. I am not only a teacher and a candidate but I am also an activist. I have been working for years to bring a progressive voice to this community. To stand up to protect the rights of all. To help to make sure that the world/town I leave for my children and grandchildren and those of my constituents will be a world that will give them the opportunity to succeed and to have the rights and privileges necessary for a happy, fulfilling life.”