Lisa OKeefe is the Republican, Conservative and Economic Renewal candidate for the State Assembly’s 123rd Assembly District. A member of the Binghamton community since age 14, she has worked on both past Republican and Democratic campaigns and has experience in education as a teacher and as an adjunct professor at SUNY Broome and the College of Westchester. Questionnaire responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
What motivated you to run for this position?
My decision to run stems from a commitment to future generations, especially students and young professionals. Our region deserves leadership that actively engages with the community to create opportunities, not just maintain the status quo. I’ve always believed that change comes when people actively step up. Through my educational and professional experience and my initiatives like “Window Wonderland” and My Town magazine, I’ve seen firsthand how community-driven events inspire pride and hope for the future. But we need more than events. We need innovative policies to bring Broome County back to its prime.
After seeing a continual decline in our economy and our needs under a 20-year incumbent, I knew it was time for a fresh perspective. Our unemployment rate for recent college graduates in Broome County, for example, is 12.3 percent, compared to a national average of 3.8 percent. This staggering disparity is a clear sign that we need new solutions and stronger advocacy at every level of government. Now is the time for change — a change that prioritizes the future, students and the economic health of our region. With 20 years of the same leadership, it’s time for a fresh approach that understands the urgency of moving forward.
How does your background and previous experience make you a strong candidate for this position?
My background as an economics professor and my work in government helping the community to thrive has given me a unique ability to blend academic insight with real-world solutions to issues such as unemployment, poverty, lack of programs and services, suffocating regulations, run away taxes, crime and more. When I was in government in Connecticut, I devised a plan and fought to ensure our community stopped its downward spiral and I know how to create the same positive change needed right here in my hometown.
As a teacher, I’ve taught future leaders, and I know firsthand the struggles facing young professionals as they enter the workforce. Broome County was once known as the most progressive county in NYS and nicknamed the “Valley of Opportunity,” but today, our graduates face one of the highest unemployment rates in the state and our poverty rate is the second highest in NY. We need practical solutions, not political promises. I know how to uncover wasteful spending and reinvest those funds where they’re needed most — toward creating jobs and ensuring opportunities for the next generation.
This change can be reversed with proper transparency, accountability and strategic investment. One of my core strengths is budget management, and my experience will help ensure that we cut unnecessary spending and duplication of services. For example, I often tell residents when canvassing that we must always take care of the needs of the people rather than the wants of our government.
Our government wanted and gave themselves a 29 percent pay raise and allocated millions of taxpayer dollars for candidates to spend on their campaigns but that does nothing for the people. And we didn’t need to spend $500,000 on unnecessary projects like researching shrimp on treadmills or $100,000 on maintaining the governor’s boat when we could be investing in local job growth. I will not only identify waste but I will put a stop to it and reallocate resources to create meaningful change.
Why are you an ideal candidate for young voters and students?
I can relate to the struggles of today’s young people, having once been a SUNY student myself, and I understand the feeling of being unheard or even silenced by those in power. My daughter, too, faces the challenges of entering the workforce, which brings those issues close to home. When I ran for office previously, I did it without the support of my party, putting people first. I have never — and will never — be a mouthpiece for special interests. I ran on $500 and won by a landslide because I truly listened to the people and promised to always work on their behalf.
For our young voters and students, I’m here to say — I will listen to you too. My former track record in government proves I have always put constituents first, even voting against my own Party when it was not in the best interests of my constituents because my constituents are my employer and I their employee. I was elected into office through their vote to be their voice and I took that responsibility seriously. With rising costs of education and unemployment rates for college grads in Broome County at 12.3 percent, students need an advocate who understands their struggles. As your representative, I will ensure that education is properly funded, safe and equipped for the future, whether that means addressing lingering issues like asbestos in schools or prioritizing student success beyond graduation.
Young people today face so many challenges, from job insecurity to student debt, and they deserve leaders who will fight for them. I keep my door open, and I want young voters to know I am here to listen and advocate for them. That is why on my website and on my material I have included my personal cell phone number so people can reach out to me directly. I have it here as well — 607-312-0792.
Polling has indicated that cost of living is a big concern, especially for young voters. What are your plans to address this?
Young people are leaving New York in droves due to the high cost of living, with New York State ranked dead last in economic outlook for 11 consecutive years. As I’ve gone door-to-door, voters consistently tell me about skyrocketing rents, limited job opportunities and the squeeze on household budgets. We need to get smarter about how we spend taxpayer dollars, focusing on what people need — jobs, affordable housing and education. We’ve seen funds wasted on projects that don’t benefit the average New Yorker, like spending millions on political campaigns or frivolous research projects. During COVID, while many New Yorkers lost their jobs, the State Legislature gave themselves a 29 percent pay raise — this money could have been redirected to essential services.
I plan to push for transparency and accountability in the budget and repeal this pay raise. We also need to create an environment where businesses want to invest in our region, thus driving down unemployment. Young people shouldn’t have to leave for Rochester or Syracuse or downstate to find jobs in med-tech or manufacturing or finance.
Instead, I’ll advocate for making Broome County a hub for these industries, which will provide long-term, sustainable employment. By reducing the cost of doing business in our region and fighting for investment, we can create real economic opportunities and bring young people back. I’ll introduce legislation to ensure that state funding goes toward meaningful programs, especially those that help create sustainable jobs in fields like tech, health care and manufacturing.
How would you vote on Proposal No. 1 on the New York State ballot?
True equality should never be left to vague wording or subject to interpretation. We must have laws that are clear, specific and protect the rights we’ve fought so hard to secure. Proposal No. 1, unfortunately, falls far short of this standard. The language is too broad, leaving critical terms like “age,” “gender” and “pregnancy outcomes” open to a wide range of interpretations. I never agree to anything unless I fully understand its meaning, and the margin for error is minimal — this proposal offers neither.
Supporters claim it is about securing abortion rights, but abortion is already protected under New York law. What’s more troubling is that the proposal doesn’t even mention the word “abortion,” unlike the existing state law which explicitly uses the term. Instead, it refers to “pregnancy outcomes,” which could encompass a much broader range of issues, leaving us vulnerable to unintended consequences. In New Mexico, they made a similar mistake by rushing through a proposal without clearly defining “gender.” It has since led to years of litigation, and Proposal No. 1 could lead New York down a similar path.
The potential ripple effects extend far beyond abortion rights. For instance, with its vague wording, men might be allowed to compete in women’s sports, undermining the progress made under Title IX. This could be devastating to young women, especially given that 25 percent of female high school graduates in New York receive some form of sports scholarships. We cannot afford to gamble with such critical rights on unclear legal grounds.
I’m voting no on Proposal No. 1 because true equality requires laws that are clear and actionable, not open to decades of legal battles. We need to bring this proposal back to the drawing board and ensure the language is precise and the protections are well-defined. Unlike ordinary laws that can be quickly amended by the state legislature, once a proposal like this is added to the New York Constitution, it becomes nearly impossible to change.
How would you address one of the major issues facing Broome County residents?
The biggest challenge facing Broome County is the lack of jobs, particularly for recent graduates. With an unemployment rate for young people sitting at 12.3 percent, far above the national average of 3.8 percent, it’s clear we need a new approach. The population in our county dropped by 6.4 percent from 2000 to 2020, largely due to people leaving in search of better opportunities.
The solution lies in making Broome County a hub for job creation in key sectors like health-tech, finance-tech and manufacturing. We also need to reduce taxes and regulations to help small businesses thrive. Unfortunately, our government has failed to prioritize job creation in meaningful ways, focusing instead on niche markets that don’t bring broad-based economic growth. By investing in sectors that can drive the local economy forward, we can stop the outmigration of young talent and build a community where people want to live, work and raise their families.
With an investment in critical infrastructure, education and community development, I am confident we can turn this trend around and build a brighter future for Broome County.