With more than half the County Legislature stepping down,
and chaos at the federal level,
our need for experienced local leadership
has never been greater.

Irene has decades of
public policy experience and a record of accomplishments
at the local, state and national level.

Town of Caroline Councilmember
(2012 -2021)

  • banned fracking

  • brought broadband and community solar development to the town

  • expanded support for food pantry, library, youth and senior programs

  • developed aquifer protection policies

  • convened the Emergency Medical Services task force that laid the groundwork for the EMS Rapid Response program that now serves Caroline and Danby.

Coordinator, Fossil Free Tompkins
(2012 -present)

  • shut down the coal-burning Cayuga power plant

  • stopped the Dryden pipeline

  • secured over $10 million for heat pump incentives

  • filed a motion to dismiss NYSEG’s rate hikes

  • worked with Assemblywoman Anna Kelles and Senator Lea Webb on legislation to halt crypto mining and CO2 fracking.

Chair, Emergency Medical Services Task Force

  • convened a working group of emergency responders, fire department commissioners, county administrators and elected officials

  • identified delayed response times, shortages in trained EMS personnel, barriers to recruitment and retention and made recommendations for needed changes

  • laid the groundwork for the rapid response program now serving Caroline and Danby, and for the more centralized training location at the mall

Founder, Director StopFamilyViolence.org (2000 - 2010)

  • started this grassroots issue advocacy organization to ensure passage of the Violence Against Women Act. Acquired over 45,000 members, secured $3.1 billion in funding for VAWA.

  • member stories were entered into the Congressional Record,  incorporated into a brief to the US Supreme Court, and used to shape national policy guidelines

  • SFV campaigns influenced US Attorney General decisions on refugee status for battered immigrant women, and helped secure provisions in welfare reform legislation so that abused women aren’t forced to participate in marriage promotion programs.

  • SFV’s work was covered in The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Salon.com, ABC.com,  Common Dreams.org and the Feminist Peace Network.