Essex County man to run for Congress

PORT HENRY -A veterinarian and former mayor of this village in Essex County has declared his candidacy for the congressional seat expected to be vacated by U.S. Rep. John McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, who was recently nominated by President Obama to be secretary of the Army.

McHugh's district includes all of Fulton County except the cities of Johnstown and Gloversville and the town of Johnstown.

Gary Cooke, who was the mayor of Port Henry from 2007 to 2009, announced last week he is interested in the Republican nomination for the seat.

Cooke said he is running to help the farming industry in the district, an industry he called "the single largest industry in the area."

"The demise of the dairy industry at this point is as critical as it's been since the Great Depression," Cooke said Monday.

He said he would like to see the government regulate milk production, which would keep dairy farmers from overproducing milk and keep milk prices more stable.

Cooke has been a large-animal veterinarian for 36 years, and has served on his village board and planning board.