Republican Dale Sweetland says he wants to represent the 25th Congressional District because he feels Congress isn’t doing enough for people in the district.
“I believe Congress has lost its compass over many, many years. Not just this Congress. They live in their own world. They only talk to themselves and their staffs and they really have collectively forgotten how to represent their constituents.” (Dale Sweetland)
In the race for 25th Congressional District, Sweetland faces Democrat Dan Maffei and Green Populist candidate Howie Hawkins. They are vying to succeed retiring Republican incumbent Jim Walsh. The 25th Congressional District includes Onondaga and Wayne Counties, plus parts of Cayuga and Monroe Counties.
Sweetland is 59 years old and lives in Fabius. His family has lived in the 25th District since 1793. Sweetland has been a Republican throughout his political career. His first job in politics came when he was elected town supervisor for the town of Fabius in 1988.
“When I was town supervisor, the Supervisor got paid $3,500 a year. So, it is volunteer and it’s caring about your community and caring about your neighbors.” (Dale Sweetland)
While he was town supervisor, he also worked as a crop insurance agent. In 1994, he was elected to the first of seven terms in the Onondaga County Legislature. In 2007, Sweetland lost a Republican primary to Joanie Mahoney for Onondaga County executive. That took him out of elected politics until he opted to run for the 25th Congressional District seat.
Sweetland says some of his biggest accomplishments were helping to pass a $1billion project to clean up Onondaga Lake and being named chairman of the legislature.
On the issues, Sweetland’s Web site says he’s in favor of off-shore drilling and lowering gas taxes. He says the government is over-regulating the economy and he wants to cut back on what he considers wasteful spending. On military recruitment, his Web site says, “We need to encourage our brightest young men and women to get involved.” He also opposes stricter gun-ownership control.
As a young adult, Sweetland was more into farming than academics or serving in the military. He went to college at SUNY Cobleskill’s College
of Agriculture and Technology but dropped out after just two years.
“I wasn’t an engaged student because I didn’t think I really wanted to be there. I was ready to go to work. I was ready to get out in the real world.” (Dale Sweetland)
He drove back to his parents’ farm in his 68’ Chevy Malibu and went back to work on the farm. He credits that experience with giving him self-discipline and a strong work ethic.
“A farm teaches you that if you don’t get up and do it, it’s not likely that anyone else is going to come and do it for you. Those cows need to be taken care of every day of the week, 365 days a year. And, it’s a lot of work to do it. But, you get a lot of satisfaction out of it.” (Dale Sweetland)
Sweetland later took over most of the work on the farm. He met his longtime friend Bill Casey in elementary school. Casey is now a town historian in Fabius. He says he long expected Sweetland to go into politics.
“Dale has the unique ability to speak, and the ability to give a speech showed up in high school and we all kind of looked at Dale and said `Dale you shouldn’t be a farmer, there’s other places for you.’” (Bill Casey)
Sweetland married his wife Susie before getting into politics. They’ve been together for 36 years. Their home is decorated in red, white, and blue. They have two children and one grandson. Susie says her husband is an ordinary guy.
“He loves to play golf. He loves to watch TV. He loves to watch golf on TV. He hogs that remote control as soon as he shuts his eyes and when I try to grab it he wakes right up.” (Susie Sweetland)
The election is November 4th.
For Democracywise, I’m Landon Sears.
(Landon Sears is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism.)
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