I'm here to today to announce that I am running for the state senate for the 53rd District. I'm so proud to live in a country where democracy reigns, and where someone like me -- who grew up in South Corning, graduated from Corning West and CCC, who owns a modest home in Elmira, and who works for Cornell University, one of the nation's premier schools -- can seek this important office.

For the past two and a half years as mayor of Elmira, I have worked hard to restore this great city's fiscal health; to always place policy before politics; and to involve citizens in our efforts to make Elmira a great place to live, work, and play.

Together, we've made significant progress:

• By working collaboratively across party lines, we've turned a $3.1 million deficit into a nearly $500,000 surplus and ended a decade of deficit spending.
• By communicating and listening, we've made City government more open and transparent, and helped to restore Elmirans' faith and trust in their government.
• By putting politics and partisanship aside, we have set the standard for intermunicipal cooperation in New York State -- helping to keep spending and taxes down.

Today, sadly, cities like Corning, Elmira, Hornell, and Ithaca; and villages like Bath, Elmira Heights, and Penn Yan have been stymied by the state of New York politics. We're simply not getting the help, representation, and support we need from Albany.

Partisanship and favoritism -- and entrenched Albany insiders -- represent the status quo in our state capital. That's the problem. Career politicians help their friends, and ignore everyone else. They hand out election-year member-item money as though it were their own altruistic gift. They pass one-house bills to posture and pontificate. They do everything, it seems, but look for ways to work together, think long-term, and devise long-term strategies to make the Southern Tier and New York State great again.

In order to move Elmira -- and all our local governments -- forward, we need real partners in Albany. We need a state senator willing to look past partisanship, cronyism, and the status quo to work with us, not against us.

I want to be that senator. And with your support, I can be.

As you all know, Albany is broken. It's no secret. In fact, the New York state legislature has repeatedly been named the most dysfunctional state government in the nation. This year it's sunk to even a deeper low, passing little legislation to help New Yorkers. New Yorkers and Americans everywhere are sick and tired of the partisan politics that are ruining our state and our country.

We need to change that, and we need to do it by thanking career politicians for their service, and telling them to make way for a new generation of thoughtful, collaborative public servants. Public servants who vow to work for all New Yorkers, not their own self-interests.

I'm happy to take that vow...and Elmirans, at least, know that I have lived this philosophy as their mayor. I am proud to be a Democrat, but I have never let partisan politics guide my decisions. I will carry that mantra from the mayor's office to the state senate chambers.

As your senator, I will work to ensure that local governments -- regardless of the political affiliation of their leaders -- have a voice in Albany and have the resources they need to flourish. One-house bills and election-time rebate checks are gimmicks, not sound policy. I believe New Yorkers, and their local communities, deserve better.

Many of you may be wondering what happens in City government now. Well, let me reassure you that I plan to continue the same hard work and commitment to my job as mayor from now until Election Day as I have over the past two and a half years. As I said before, we have a lot of work to do, and we have a great team at work. I will continue to work with Elmira's municipal neighbors on collaborative efforts. Elmirans know that I am open, not vindictive. I always seek common solutions, and that will continue -- regardless of my candidacy.

Over the next five months, I will crisscross the 53rd District and work as tirelessly for this important senate seat as I did when I ran for mayor. I am under no illusions. I have an uphill battle. I fully expect to be outspent and to be pressed by a political machine that is bound and determined to maintain the status quo of the past 30 years.

I will run my campaign as I have governed and as I will govern -- respectfully, openly, and humbly. With your help, we will win this race. As your senator, I will deliver better...For a Better New York.

Thank you!

Read John's announcement speech.