By JESSICA NICOSIA

For the C-S-E

AMES — The Canajoharie Republican Committee hosted “An Evening with Congressman Chris Gibson” at the home of Daran and Katie Bottger in Ames on Tuesday night. Officials and residents from Montgomery County attended to meet Gibson, the 20th district incumbent who is running for re-election in the newly redrawn 19th Congressional District, which includes the western part of the county.

Gibson is running against former Ulster County Democratic Chairman Julian Schreibman, who defeated Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner in the Democratic primary in June. Gibson has been to Montgomery County three times so far this summer to visit constituents and hear their comments and concerns. He plans to visit more before the election.

“I think to represent you really have to understand the perspective of those throughout the district,” said Gibson, who lives in Kinderhook with his wife Mary Jo and three children. “What I’m doing this month is holding a series of these types of events where I come into a village or a town. We call them house parties but really folks come throughout the area that are interested and I give an update on matters in D.C. and then we’ll do a dialogue. I’ll take what’s on their mind, comments and questions. I learn something every time I do this and I think it puts me in a much more effective position to represent.”

Gibson grew up in Kinderhook, in Columbia County. He served in the Army for 24 years, ultimately becoming a colonel and being deployed seven times. With an MBA and PhD in Government form Cornell University, he serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the Republican Policy Committee.

“We’re very enthused about Congressman Gibson,” said Jeff Smith, Montgomery County Undersheriff. “We think that with his experience already serving a term and serving a larger area, he’s going to bring a lot to this county. And he seems like a down to earth, down home guy. You know, he’s retired from the military, he’s a family guy, somebody that we believe that will really pay attention to what we need in Montgomery County.”

“What I’ve been hearing throughout what’s going to be the 19th Congressional District is the need to focus on job creation and opportunities,” said Gibson. “So I’m going to be running on my record. This is something I’ve been working very hard on for the last year and a half.”

On a previous visit to Ames, Gibson said he hopes to visit all the schools the part of Montgomery County that is in his district.

Principals from Canajoharie’s middle and elementary schools were present on Tuesday and agreed that what they need is more resources, monetary or otherwise.

“There is so much that Congressman Gibson can do for Montgomery County,” said Katie Bottger, who is Gibson’s Montgomery County Representative and the secretary of the Canajoharie Republican Committee. “He is on the house committees on agriculture, which is huge for our area. And the way that the redistricting worked, the new 19th district really keeps the rural areas together. Before ... we saw that a lot of western county interests would be forgotten about in favor of eastern county, Amsterdam. So I think that the agriculture things, the farm bills, and the farm councils he’s on. I think that’s a huge deal for our area. It’s candidates like him that make me involved in politics. I met him once and I was sold.”