"Local Politics and National Polarization", TODAY at 3:30pm

[Daniel Lake]

 *The Institute for Ethics in Public Life would like to invite you to join
us for "Local Politics and National Polarization" on Wednesday, January 28,
at 3:30pm, with special guests Matthew Veitch '94, former Chair of the
Board of Supervisors, City of Saratoga Springs, and David Rodriguez
DeCancio '93, Senior Advisor for New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E.
Heastie and member of the Bethlehem Town Board.*

It is hardly newsworthy to point out that the United States is very
politically polarized. Partisanship has been increasing in Congress over
the last 50 years, according to Pew Research
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/03/10/the-polarization-in-todays-congress-has-roots-that-go-back-decades/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1769629824174438&usg=AOvVaw1l4QSs4taLxbGABvDzGYwx>.
The electorate has similarly become more polarized, with a significant
increase in antipathy towards members of the other party
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/08/09/as-partisan-hostility-grows-signs-of-frustration-with-the-two-party-system/&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1769629824174438&usg=AOvVaw0H_NXNv3WhK5WRcgzhQ6P0>.
As citizens and residents, we see this manifest as conflict and dysfunction
in Washington, and many of us are alienated from politics
<https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/09/19/americans-dismal-views-of-the-nations-politics/>
as a result.

What few of us consider, or understand, is that the vast majority of
politics and government in the U.S. takes place at the local level. Of all
the elected officials in the U.S., over 96% are at the local level
<https://www.google.com/url?q=https://poliengine.com/blog/how-many-politicians-are-there-in-the-us&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1769629824174438&usg=AOvVaw0yr6_KirAFYNvDdYEzf_no>(only
.1% are at the national level). Similarly, while there were some 3 million
federal government employees in 2024, there were roughly 5 million state
government employees and 15 million local government employees. There are
far more Americans involved in local politics and working for local
governments than there are at the state and federal levels.

How does the political polarization we see at the national level affect
local politics and government? Join Matthew Veitch ’94 and David Rodriguez
DeCancio ’93 as they share their experiences navigating today’s divided
political landscape as local elected officials and the impact it has had on
local government.

Matthew Veitch, ’94, earned a B.S. in Secondary Education with a minor in
Music.  He also earned an A.S. in Applied Information Technology degree
from Pace University in 2005. He served as the Saratoga County Supervisor
representing the City of Saratoga Springs from 2008-2025 and was elected by
his peers to be Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in 2015. Matthew
serves in a variety of public roles including as CEO of the Saratoga County
Capital Resource Corporation and Historian for the City of Saratoga
Springs.  It is also notable that both of Matt’s parents are graduates of
SUNY Plattsburgh, and all of his siblings (4) and two of his in-laws are as
well, as well as his niece.  The latest Veitch, Matthew's nephew, is
currently a Sophomore at Plattsburgh.

David R. DeCancio is an accomplished public policy and communications
strategist who currently serves as Senior Advisor to New York State
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. David has held various senior-level
positions for three NYS Assembly Speakers and in the Office of the
Governor. David was elected to the Bethlehem Town Board in January 2021,
becoming the first Latino to serve on the board. He also serves on the
Board of Directors for the Bethlehem Youth Court and the Bethlehem YMCA
Advisory Council. David earned his B.A. in Political Science from SUNY
Plattsburgh.
Please join us in person at the E. Thomas Moran Seminar Room, Institute for
Ethics in Public Life (Hawkins 233) or on Zoom (below).

Daniel Lake is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Local Politics and National Polarization
Time: Jan 28, 2026 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://plattsburgh.zoom.us/j/86548286938


-- 

*Daniel Lake*

(pronouns: he/him/his)

Professor of Political Science

Director, Institute for Ethics in Public Life

Hawkins 149A

101 Broad Street
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

Plattsburgh, NY 12901
<https://maps.google.com/?q=101+Broad+Street+Plattsburgh,+NY+12901&entry=gmail&source=g>

(o) 518-564-5833 <(518)%5645833>

*plattsburgh.edu <http://plattsburgh.edu/>*
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