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Martha Robertson, Tompkins County Legislator for the Town of Dryden (District 13, western half) and Chairperson of the Legislature, announced her decision to run for re-election this November. First elected to the post in 2001, Robertson is completing her third term on the board governing Tompkins County. She is in her fourth year as Chair of the Legislature.

A lifelong Democrat, Robertson represents the county on the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council and chairs the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency. She is a leader in the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), serving on statewide commissions on Mandate Relief and Medicaid Redesign as well as several of the association's standing committees. Robertson has been an outspoken advocate about the issues facing county governments in New York, is a strong advocate for fairer funding for schools and health care, and frequently serves as an influential spokesperson in the statewide media.

Over the years Robertson's legislative priorities have included affordable housing, fairer taxes in New York, and creating jobs through local efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. She appointed the county's Broadband Committee and charged it with identifying a path forward to secure internet access for every resident of the county. The committee's work and collaboration with Clarity Connect resulted in the just-announced $2.2 million broadband grant from New York State.

Robertson's leadership on the issue of hydrofracking is well-known. She co-founded Elected Officials to Protect New York (nyelectedofficials.org), a group of 625 local elected officials from every county in the state. EOPNY calls for extension of the state's moratorium pending comprehensive studies of fracking's health impacts, cumulative environmental impacts, and socioeconomic effects on communities and local governments.

In a statement, Robertson explained her eagerness to continue serving the people of Dryden and the county: “Although I have strong principles, I am a pragmatist and look for allies wherever possible. For example, I worked across party lines to secure state funding to fight the invasive plant Hydrilla. I've been proud to have bipartisan support every year I've been elected Legislature Chair.”

Over her career Martha has been a teacher, a small business owner, and a fundraiser for community nonprofits and Cornell University. A resident of Tompkins County for 30 years, she is married with two children and two grandchildren.

County legislators serve four-year terms. All seats are up for election this fall, in districts redrawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission and approved by the Legislature in 2012.

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