Mike Bobseine, a candidate who is looking to fill the seat that will be vacated by Andre Goodell after his retirement from the NYS Assembly, visited the Clymer Board of Education during their latest meeting. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

CLYMER — Mike Bobseine, who is running for the New York State Assembly to fill the seat that will soon be vacant after current assemblyman Andrew Goodell retires, has been taking the time to introduce himself at local school board meetings and libraries.

Recently, he visited Clymer Central School during its latest school board meeting.

“I’m trying to visit all the school boards and the libraries throughout the district,” Bobseine said. “You know, the district goes from the Seneca nation, Cattaraugus territory, down to Clymer.”

Bobseine attended the meeting with his wife, Susan Parker, who is a county legislator. He said the purpose of his visit was to introduce himself to the local area. Bobseine is an attorney and was part of the Chautauqua County Legislature for 10 years in the 1990s.

“With being an attorney I went to private practice for ten years,” Bobseine said. “I worked primarily in Family Court, representing kids, a lot of kids, and families obviously.”

Bobseine was then appointed as a magistrate, serving there for 10 years, primarily with child support, saying that he has always worked a lot with families. He was also on the Fredonia school board for 12 years, being president there for six.

“Coming back to the school boards is really fun for me,” Bobseine said. “I actually know what you’re talking about. I really appreciate the discussion that takes place at school boards. I have at the top of my list the fact that I do believe public education is probably the single most important gift that we can give to our children.”

Bobseine said the state plays a specific role in public education, reflecting on things like universal pre-kindergarten, as Clymer’s Pre-K program was discussed during the meeting. He added that he appreciated the fact that Clymer was looking to have a meeting with Panama and Sherman and share services with them, including that Clymer is set to share its food service director, Sue Watrous, with Sherman.

“I really appreciate what schools do,” Bobseine said. “I’m also going to every library in the district. I will just say that the schools and libraries are the heart and soul of our community and the work that you’re all doing. And that’s how we’re going to renew our district, is the work that you all do.”