Gordon Jenkins announces candidacy for Monticello village trustee

MONTICELLO - Monticello resident, Gordon C. Jenkins, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Monticello Village Board of Trustees. If Jenkins has his way, the election will be preceded by a Democratic primary on January 25th and he will be the Democratic candidate. The election on March 15th will fill the year remaining on the unexpired term of Mary Jo Oppenheim who resigned last year.

A lifelong Democrat, Jenkins, 44, was born in Monticello and has lived here all his life.

On January 10th he filed verified petitions signed by over 200 residents of the village with the Sullivan County Board of Elections – more than twice the number of signatures required by law.

Pointing to dramatic raises in village taxes last year, Jenkins said local government needs to rein in spending and not sacrifice its revenues to benefit outside municipalities. "The reason I am running," Jenkins said, "is to represent the ordinary taxpayers who have to shoulder the burden when government spending is out of control. I will be a Trustee the people can trust. I won't give away the store."

A Monticello homeowner and co-proprietor of G-Men Hair & Beauty Supplies on Monticello's downtown Broadway, as well as of residential properties in the community, Jenkins understands the challenges facing Broadway businesses as well as of struggling individuals. He has also worked for nearly 20 years as a state corrections officer.

In addition to the signatures he has already collected, Jenkins pledged to collect even more to win an additional line on the March ballot.

“I’ll honor the commitment I made to my supporters to run, to win, and to bring integrity to Village Hall,” he promised those who signed for him.
Promising to remain available to listen and to remain accountable by listening to public comments from all sectors of the community and after he is elected to respect voters who care enough to attend village board meetings by answering questions and interacting as a public servant.
He stressed that he is committed to working with and for all the people of Monticello -- including the interests of minorities and low-income families, as well as of local businesses, in cleaning up the community, attracting businesses from the outside, encouraging local entrepreneurship, and helping to make village government operate more openly.

Jenkins has served for several years at no pay for several years as a member of the village's Commission on Human Rights. He has also served a member of the Town of Thompson Democratic Committee. He is an active member of the Blue Knights, a law-enforcement motorcycle club that does charity work.

Jenkins served in the U.S. Army in Germany as a communication specialist from 1978 to 1981.

Monticello voters with questions for Jenkins are invited to stop by and talk with him in the G-Men store at 465-3 Broadway, or call him at (845) 791-6855.