Bethany Town Supervisor Carl Hyde asked Blakeman about farmers buying fuel off a government contract to get the same kind of discounts that municipalities get, which will help them save some money in fuel costs.
{Response: So that’s a great idea, and I would be willing to do that as governor. I also would be willing to fix the overtime rules that that make it so difficult for the farmers. There are people who come from other places, and maybe some of them are migrants. I think we should have a guest worker program for them, especially for the farmers, so they have an opportunity to get their crops to market, and so that you have an opportunity to do it without getting killed with overtime or the rules. There should be an agricultural exception to the overtime rules of this state.}
Fresh off his campaign rally with President Trump on Friday in Garden City, Long Island, Gubernatorial Candidate and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman made a swing through WNY Sunday, stopping in at the Back the Blue Ride in the Brockport/Murray area and then to Batavia for a Meet and Greet with supporters at the Ag Education Center and Museum at 5030 East Main Street Road.
Blakeman shared some of his accomplishments, including some crime statistics.
“I hired 900 new law enforcement professionals, police, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, corrections officers, probation officers, U.S. News and World Report said my county was the safest county in America, not New York, in America, and I’m on the border in New York City, so I made promises, and I kept my promises.
Link to US News and World article from August of 2024 Safest Counties in America
Blakeman says he is on a mission, while he says he could be at home on his couch having a beer, instead he is out meeting with supporters around the state.
” I’m on a mission for our kids and our grandkids. Both my parents were World War II veterans. Not many people can say that. My mother joined the army. My father said because she didn’t want to be left out of a good fight. And if you knew my mother, that was true. I take after my mother. But think about it. My parents fought for me, my brother, and my three sisters, so that we could have a better life, just like your parents and your grandparents fought for you to have a better life than they did. Now we can’t look our own kids in the eye with a straight face and say you’re going to have a better life in New York than I had. So, we’ve got to get in this fight. This is a fight, a fight to save our state and save our country,” Blakeman said
Blakeman says he is fighting for American values.
According to AI, American values combine a commitment to personal freedom, equality, and self-reliance with a respect for family, community, and innovation. These principles shape social behavior, expectations, and the broader cultural identity of the United States, influencing both individual choices and societal norms.
“You have people that don’t have American values, and Kathy Hochul doesn’t have the courage to stand up for them. But I’ll tell you one thing: I do have the courage to stand up for them. I got nothing to lose. I’m going to fight for my kids. I’m going to fight for my grandkids. I’m going to fight for you and your kids and your grandkids, and if we all get in this fight together, we can win this. We got to get back to the things that our parents taught us in Judeo-Christian work ethic. You don’t get stuff for free. You got to work for it. And if you do work for it, and you get a reward, you get to keep that reward. We’ve got to stand up for the values that made this a great country. This state is now 50, number five zero in economic outlook. It doesn’t get worse than that. There are only 50 states. That’s why our kids are leaving. That’s why businesses are leaving. And we got to stand here and make that pledge that it’s over. We’re not going to let these crazy people, these un-American people, take over our state and our country. And it begins here in New York. And that’s why President Trump came to see me on Friday because he sees what’s going on.”
Link to article: New York – State Economic Profile – Rich States, Poor States
According to the article:
Economic Outlook Rank: 50th
Economic Performance Rank: 33rd
Kadin Smith, 21, of Alexander, NY, has concerns about not being able to afford to buy a house in New York.
” I was comparing the price on Zillow, my parents’ house, even two years ago, from what it is now, and I think it went up at least $20,000. And comparing many other houses in the area, it’s substantial. And to be a kid in this modern-day world economy, especially in this state, it’s scary, especially with the fact that one day I do want to buy a house and I don’t want to be renting my entire life. So, if elected, what would be your promise to be able to make the housing market more affordable for young people?
Response: “I don’t blame you for thinking you don’t have a future here in New York. We should be at the top. We’re the Empire State. So, what I want to do is I want to make it more affordable for you by putting more money in your pocket, cutting your electric bills, cutting your taxes, and creating better jobs.”
Brent Snyder from Attica asked, “If you get elected, how are we assured you’re not going to forget about us?
“I won’t forget you. I won’t forget anybody, because everybody’s child and grandchild is precious, and everybody deserves the same thing. So, I’ll be up here many, many times. I’ll be up here for good times, and when you’re in need, you’ll have a governor that’s here for you when you’re in need.”
Blakeman was elected as Nassau County Executive in 2021, Previously he served as a commissioner for the New York/New Jersey Port Authority and as a Nassau County legislator and a town councilman in the Town of Hempstead.
The 2026 New York gubernatorial election is November 3rd, 2026.
Interested in Blakeman