PORT HENRY — A Port Henry veterinarian is the latest candidate for the 23rd Congressional District seat.

On Thursday, former Port Henry Mayor Dr. Gary S. Cooke, 67, added his name to those of other Republican candidates seeking the post.

The seat is expected to be open later this summer when John McHugh is confirmed as secretary of the Army.

AGRICULTURE ISSUES

Cooke said he’s running because the dairy industry is the backbone of the 23rd District, and he wants to help farmers.

As a large-animal veterinarian for 36 years, he said, he works on the dairy farms that fill the Northern Tier from Champlain to Massena.

“I’ve been on a large number of those farms. I know what their problems are. I know what overproduction does to the price of milk.”

He said a 1-percent increase in milk production equals a 10-percent decrease in price.

“The dairy industry is the driving force in the area. Milk prices are devastatingly low. It would be a compounding factor in the demise of this region.”

Cooke said he supports the dairy-production program of the National Milk Producers Federation.

“It could be successful. It’s a very simple program. It recognizes that dairy production increases of 2 to 3 percent a year are normal growth.”

The program would reward milk producers who stay below that, he said, “so there’s not substantial growth in the industry” and milk prices do not fall.

MILITARY VETERANS