Tommy Robinson II, a candidate for Jefferson County Legislature District 3, says he wants to bring “fresh ideas” and greater transparency to county government.
West Palm Beach, Florida
By Hans Wilder
In a political environment where voters across Northern New York increasingly complain that politics has become little more than recycled talking points and party loyalty tests, Jefferson County Legislative District 3 candidate Tommy Robinson II is attempting to present himself as something different: an independent-minded working-class Democrat focused less on ideology and more on what he describes as “fresh ideas” and local transparency.
Robinson, who is running for the District 3 seat in Jefferson County, recently sat down virtually with the Watertown Post for an extended discussion covering everything from property taxes and energy policy to immigration, National Grid, data centers, and even the long-term future of the U.S.-Canada border relationship.
District 3 includes Alexandria Bay, Redwood, Plessis, and LaFargeville — communities deeply tied to the economic fortunes of the St. Lawrence River region and the broader North Country. Robinson argues that one of the district’s biggest problems remains the ever-growing burden of property taxes, particularly the layered assessment structures that many residents barely understand until the bill arrives.
According to Robinson, one area he would like to examine is the way fire district assessments are handled, particularly in smaller communities where multiple levy structures can stack onto homeowners year after year. He floated the idea of simplifying or restructuring those systems into more streamlined district-wide approaches or service-based fee models.
Like many younger candidates entering local politics, Robinson speaks with less polish than career officeholders. But in an era when voters increasingly distrust polished politicians anyway, that rough-around-the-edges approach may actually work to his advantage with some residents.
One of the more unusual portions of the discussion centered around a hypothetical question involving deeper North American economic integration between the United States and Canada — a subject the Watertown Post frequently explores due to the North Country’s geographic position along the border.
Robinson said he believes greater economic cooperation between the two countries could eventually benefit Jefferson County and the St. Lawrence Valley by reducing border delays, improving supply chains, and attracting investment tied to maritime commerce and logistics infrastructure along the river corridor. At the same time, he also criticized what he views as excessive Canadian government spending and tax burdens, framing his answer more as an economic practicality discussion than a purely political one.
On renewable energy, Robinson landed somewhere between cautious support and skepticism — a position that increasingly mirrors where many rural North Country residents themselves appear to stand.
He acknowledged the potential economic and energy benefits of wind and solar development, particularly if projects genuinely lower utility costs for consumers and provide additional income opportunities for farmers leasing land. But he also raised concerns about farmland preservation, soil degradation, rising land assessments, and what happens when corporate-scale energy projects begin reshaping agricultural communities.
Robinson repeatedly returned to one theme throughout the interview: the idea that average residents often feel disconnected from county government.
He criticized what he sees as a lack of transparency within county leadership and argued that too many major discussions occur behind closed doors before the public is fully informed. Jefferson County’s legislative body currently has no Democratic representation, something Robinson believes contributes to voters feeling unheard if they fall outside the dominant political majority.
Still, Robinson also made clear he is trying to avoid presenting himself as a rigid partisan figure.
“It should be about ideas, not a party,” Robinson told the Watertown Post during the conversation, later adding that he considers himself “independent minded” despite running as a Democrat.
That balancing act may ultimately determine whether candidates like Robinson can gain traction in a region that has increasingly shifted Republican at the federal and state levels over the last decade.
The discussion also turned toward immigration and the ongoing debate surrounding former Border Czar Tom Homan, who hails from Northern New York and remains a highly polarizing figure depending on political affiliation.
Robinson took a notably nuanced approach. While supporting stronger border enforcement and acknowledging concerns surrounding trafficking and drug smuggling, he also criticized both parties for what he sees as political hypocrisy and failures in leadership over time. He argued that public officials should be careful about mixing political disputes with business decisions in ways that divide communities or damage local economies.
Where Robinson became especially animated was on the subject of utility costs and National Grid.
Like many North Country residents, he believes energy costs are becoming unsustainable for working families. During the interview, Robinson argued that large utility structures increasingly operate with too little accountability while local communities shoulder the financial burden. He suggested local and regional energy systems deserve closer scrutiny and questioned whether more local control over power distribution could benefit consumers long-term.
On the rapidly emerging issue of data centers — something increasingly relevant as artificial intelligence infrastructure expands nationwide — Robinson voiced concerns that large facilities could consume significant land and energy resources while offering fewer long-term jobs than many residents expect.
At the same time, he acknowledged that any investment creating employment opportunities in the region deserves consideration, particularly in economically stagnant rural areas that continue struggling with population loss and rising costs.
Whether voters ultimately agree with Robinson or not, one thing is clear: he does not sound like a typical rehearsed political consultant product. His answers often wander, occasionally contradict themselves, and sometimes drift into broader philosophical territory. But that may also be exactly why some voters will find him interesting.
At 30,000 feet, Robinson appears to be trying to tap into a growing sentiment found across much of America right now — frustration with entrenched political structures, skepticism toward both parties, and the belief that local government has become increasingly disconnected from ordinary working people.
Whether that message resonates enough to translate into votes in District 3 remains to be seen. But at minimum, Robinson has inserted himself into the conversation in a county political landscape that often sees very little ideological variation at the local level.
“Life & opportunities is the effort you chose for it to be, the rest will follow. You have to know yourself to be your own true-self; old keys don’t open new doors.”
— Tommy Robinson II
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