by Rachel Hunter
North Country residents gathered at the historic Olde DeKalb Hotel in DeKalb Junction on Thursday, April 16, for a Meet and Greet featuring NYS Assembly District 117 Candidate Tammie Nabywaniec.
Faithful readers of the Gouverneur Tribune Press will recall that Nabywaniec is a North Country public servant and community leader with more than two decades of experience working on family and community focused initiatives across Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Oneida Counties. Her background spans nonprofit leadership, community development, mediation, and state government service, with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and practical problem-solving in rural communities. Throughout her work, she has partnered with local governments, schools, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen community services, improve public safety coordination, and expand access to support systems for families.
Early on, after living overseas and being posted with and supporting the American Embassies in Budapest, Hungary and Tel Aviv, Israel; Nabywaniec chose to return home to the North Country to raise her family and continue her public service work. She formerly served as Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush in the New York State Assembly, where she oversaw district operations across a four-county region and works extensively on constituent services, local government relations, and policy coordination, engaging regularly with municipal and county leaders on issues including affordability, public safety, education, and access to essential services. In addition to her district responsibilities, Nabywaniec worked closely with the Assemblyman in Albany on legislative priorities, state agency coordination, and policy matters affecting rural communities, helping bridge local needs with state-level decision-making.
Nabywaniec also served on numerous regional and statewide boards, committees, and collaborative workgroups focused on community health, public safety, family support, and mediation. A certified community mediator, she brought experience in conflict coaching, family mediation, and school‑based mediation. Her work earned recognition at both the state and national level, including her selection as a Fellow of Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy.
The 117th Assembly District, which includes all of Lewis County, most of St. Lawrence County, and portions of Jefferson and Oneida counties, is one of New York’s largest rural districts. Made up of small towns, villages, farmland, and open countryside, the district is home to strong agricultural traditions, family farms, forests, and tight‑knit communities. Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division play a central role in the region’s identity and economy, reinforcing the district’s deep ties to military families and veterans. Because of its size and rural character, the district faces unique challenges, from maintaining infrastructure and expanding broadband access to supporting agriculture, rural schools, and public safety. Residents consistently value practical solutions, local control, and representation that understands rural life.
During the April 16 event, Nabywaniec spoke with residents and local, county, and state dignitaries about key issues facing the region. She addressed rising costs and the need to reduce regulatory burdens so families, farms, seniors, and small businesses could afford to live and work in the North Country. She emphasized the importance of local decision‑making, the need to push back against unfunded mandates, and the value of protecting constitutional freedoms. She also highlighted support for law enforcement, first responders, corrections officers, and military families, and she underscored the importance of protecting essential local services and strengthening rural communities with practical, close‑to‑home solutions.
North Country residents told the Gouverneur Tribune Press that the Olde DeKalb Hotel in DeKalb Junction proved to be an ideal setting for the event, noting its friendly staff, good food and drinks, and relaxed atmosphere that encouraged quality conversation. Nabywaniec promised to return to St. Lawrence County throughout the summer, and will make appearances across the North Country region ahead of the 2026 General Election in November. For more information on NYS Assembly District 117 Candidate Tammie Nabywaniec, visit teamnaby.com.