Janet Tweed

Janet Tweed earned a bachelor's degree from Elizabethtown College in 2003, a graduate degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 2006, and graduated from Utica College in 2021. Her career experience includes working as a physical therapist.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a physical therapist, my job is to help people in very challenging situations. Older folks desperate to get back home after a fall, younger people who need to regain mobility to meet demands of work and family, people who will work as hard as necessary to dance at their child’s wedding. I work with people who are frustrated, in pain, struggling with both physical ailments and, frequently, with the failings of our for-profit healthcare system.

I'm running for New York State Assembly District 102 because we desperately need elected leaders who want to serve people, not corporate profits. The United States pays twice as much per person for our healthcare system than other wealthy countries. We are also the only developed country in the world that does not guarantee its citizens universal healthcare. This is an economic failing and a moral failing. And it only exists because the current system is designed to benefit profits, not people.

I've also served on the Delhi Town and Village boards. In those roles, I've seen similar challenges to housing affordability, utility fairness and transparency, and more. Whether the problem is unnecessary rate hikes by utility companies, or corporate investors buying up limited housing stock and pricing out would-be homeowners, my promise to you is that I will always serve people before profits. I have never taken a dime from corporate PACs and I never will.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Improving healthcare affordability and accessibility. We can:

1. Expand school-based health centers so all children can access primary care without copays or insurance.

2. Support seniors to age in place safely and with dignity.

3. Incentivize providers to work in underserved areas, such as the rural 102nd district, through tuition forgiveness programs if providers work at least 5 years in those areas.

4. Pass the New York Health Act to guarantee universal healthcare for all New Yorkers.

A healthy society is fundamental to our economy and our democracy. This, and my professional experience, is why improving our healthcare system is my top priority.Empowering just, sustainable infrastructure, including energy, public infrastructure, and housing. I support:

Efforts by Rep. Josh Riley to rein in outrageous NYSEG CEO pay; thoughtfully expanding renewable energy; and regulating AI data centers so they don’t burden communities.

Shifting how Albany distributes water and sewer funding to municipalities from the current grant-based model to a dedicated distribution based on need. This would reduce costs to local governments and ensure greater fairness in funding distribution, especially between urban and rural areas.

Increasing housing stock across New York. On the Delhi village board, I’ve advocated for revising zoning to enable greater density in the village, where many people want to liveProtecting our Constitution and our communities

None of us are free until all of us are free. I support women’s right to choose, LGBTQ+ folks’ right to live freely and without fear, citizens’ right to vote without political interference, and every person’s right to due process, a fair and speedy trial, and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. Human and constitutional rights are for everyone, citizens and immigrants.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In addition to improving healthcare, empowering just infrastructure and protecting the Constitution, I am passionate about protecting our environment.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Endorsements: New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 1118, Western Catskills Indivisible, Planned Parenthood, Albany County Young Democrats, Eleanor's Legacy, Streets PAC, Capital Women, Family Planning Action Fund. Candidate designations: New York Health Act Champion, Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, Mental Health Now Candidate

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an elected official currently serving on the Delhi Village board and previously on the Town board. I am a physical therapist who has worked mainly in hospitals in urban and rural settings but also with experience in home health physical therapy. My husband is an architecture professor. My son is a teenager and loves to run. I am a Rotarian and a community volunteer, someone who is asked to help and lead projects. I am an avid hiker and newly avid kayaker who is trying to find more time to explore nature and protect and preserve it. Because of all these pieces I will be a strong advocate in Albany for better healthcare, stronger communities, and a resilient environment.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Better healthcare: I have been providing direct patient care as a physical therapist in a variety of settings for almost 20 years. I have had success helping my patients return to thriving after surviving illness and injuries. But I know that for every patient I work with, there are so many more who do not have access to healthcare services or are able to afford treatment. I understand the frustrations of advocating for a patient and being turned down, only to fight again for services. I see how my coworkers and colleagues have burned out from unreasonable caseloads and paperwork. I am committed to making healthcare more accessible and affordable for everyone. I will continue to support healthcare reform, such as the New York Health Act.Stronger communities: I have served on Town and Village boards and been able to work effectively with colleagues across the political spectrum because my focus is achieving results for my community. I am a pragmatic progressive, looking for ways to address problems through collaborative, affordable solutions. I have led the village and town to establish climate-smart initiatives, including receiving grants from state and local agencies to improve energy efficiency in municipal buildings, which will reduce our carbon footprint while saving tac dollars in the long run. As a member of Assembly, my goal is to empower individuals and groups to reach their community goals.A resilient environment: climate change is already affecting our lives with warmer winters and more severe storms throughout the year. These have an impact on agricultural and recreation industries in our area. They require smart solutions and changes to how we build and grow as communities. We need to embrace renewable energy technologies while also promoting programs to support siting of larger projects closer to where the energy is needed, focusing on land that has been developed for parking, shopping, and industry instead of green fields and forests.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1.

Women’s healthcare and reproductive rights affect everyone. Many diseases are treatable with early detection and care. If providers are not available in these specialties or are reluctant to work in these areas due to fear of litigation, we risk losing people too soon and unnecessarily. Family planning services are essential to empowering women to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.

2.

Education is important. The New York public school system is one of the best in the nation and should continue to be funded so that students and teachers are supported. Training at community colleges and SUNY schools for in-demand careers should receive more funding so that these programs can grow.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

One of the main responsibilities of an assembly member is to advocate for the needs and goals of their district. This will sometimes highlight the differences in priorities for different areas that can be independent of party affiliation and are areas for diversity of perspective when passing legislation. Assembly members should be in close and frequent contact with their constituents.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a babysitter, followed closely by coaching age-group swimming and diving and being a lifeguard all the way through college. The caregiver and instructional jobs led to my career as a physical therapist as well as my community volunteerism and support for local and regional recreation.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Eleanor's Legacy, CaptialWomen, Delaware County Democratic Committee, Delhi Democratic Committee, and Middlefield Democratic Committee

What committees interest you?

health, higher education