LITTLE FALLS — Deborah A. Kaufman has formally announced her plans to seek a four-year term as mayor of the city of Little Falls. She plans on running under the Republican and Conservative parties and has already received the Conservative Party nomination.

Kaufman is a fourth generation Little Falls resident, whose relatives came to the city in the late 1800s from County Cork, Ireland, to escape the potato famine. Her father was a second generation plumbing contractor, and her brother continued the business until his retirement.

“I was raised with a blue-collar sensibility in a family of five children, lived on East Monroe Street and attended St. Mary’s Academy and Little Falls High School, Kaufman said. “One of my fondest memories of growing up in the city was helping my dad in his business, answering phones and stamping brochures for customers. That legacy of hard work, my father’s business principles and the generational friendships he forged with his customers inspired my career in business.”

“I’m running for Mayor because I believe Little Falls is at a pivotal point in its history that requires effective and bold leadership to move us forward,” Kaufman added. “I have a passion for the job and experience in leading large groups of people, fiduciary responsibility, making policy decisions and securing revenue through innovative strategies and collaboration.”

After returning home to Little Falls in 2008, Kaufman transitioned her consulting company, Embella, Inc., into a leading grant writing agency securing small and large community grants, including the recent $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) Grant for Little Falls, three CNYArts annual music festival grants for the city and eight grants plus 12 private funds securing commitments for approximately $2 million toward the Youth & Family Center’s $2.5M Capital Campaign.

“I can’t thank the many people who have come out to encourage and support me in this endeavor enough. Their insights mean the world to me and they have guided me in making this decision to run for office,” Kaufman stated.

She concluded, “I look forward to knocking on doors in the coming months, holding information sessions with people to hear their views and sharing my vision for the city. One that young people can return to, can raise their family in, and a city they can be proud of for years to come.”

Kaufman spent over 30 years in Texas as a C-level executive, building technology companies and consulting with early stage businesses. During her tenure, she held positions as vice president of marketing, president, and COO for private and public companies. In addition to her work experience, Kaufman is an FAA Instrument Rated Pilot, FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot, a NAUI certified Scuba Diver, a licensed Texas Real Estate Salesperson and an avid landscape artist.

For more information on Kaufman’s campaign, visit: kaufmanformayor.com