Finger Lakes Tea Party encourages citizens to vote

Finger Lakes Tea Party encourages citizens to vote

    PENN YAN—The Finger Lakes Tea Party met Tuesday, Aug. 28 to discuss how to promote voting during the upcoming election season. Finger Lakes area Co-founder Patrick Galvin said November is a critical election, and in order for people to make their voices heard, they need to get out and vote. To encourage this, Galvin said the Tea Party needs to keep its momentum going by getting out into the public through a series of events.
    The Tea Party is planning to ride in the parade during the Dundee Scottish Festival Saturday, Sept. 8. Members will ride in the back of a truck decorated with American and Scottish flags and encourage those they pass to vote in the upcoming elections.
    The Shooter’s Committee on Political Education (SCOPE) will also be holding meetings in defense of the second amendment at the Elks Lodge located at 133 Main St. in Penn Yan. Congressional Candidate Nate Shinagawa will discuss his views on the second amendment during a meeting Thursday, Sept. 13 at the club and will answer questions from the public. The club will also be holding similar events for the four candidates running for two judge positions in the state throughout the month of October.
    Galvin said the Republican Fall Dinner will be held Tuesday, Oct. 25. He said he does not have many details as of yet, but he heard they are trying to hold it at Esperanza Mansion. Galvin also said they are trying to get Senatorial Candidate Wendy Long to be the keynote speaker at the event.
    Galvin made it clear from the beginning of the meeting that the Tea Party is not here to take stances on specific local policies like fracking. He said they are here to focus on national issues concerning the constitution and limiting the powers of federal government. Galvin also said encouraging voting is a non-partisan issue that almost everyone can agree on and that it is greatly important.
    The next meeting of the Finger Lakes Tea Party will be Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Penn Yan Village Hall.