About Anna

Anna has been fighting the good fight her whole life…

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Anna grew up on a dirt road outside of Trumansburg, on the west side of Cayuga Lake where her playground was the forest and her work was the farm up the road. Early on, she was taught to value every person, whether it was a hungry neighbor or a refugee from Tibet. Anna learned early what it means to love the place where you live – and that you have to work hard every day to make it better, for everyone in the community.

Anna studied Biology and Environmental Studies at Binghamton University,  and after years working in South America, earned a PhD in Nutritional Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill. As an educator, an environmental non-profit director, a human rights activist, a Tompkins County legislator, and now as our State Assemblymember she has used her background in environmentalism and public health to advocate for our community.

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In the last two terms in Albany, Anna has championed and passed legislation to address critical issues in our communities, including:

  • Saving Ithaca Carshare

  • Expanding access to affordable housing

  • Securing critical relief & protections for tenants & homeowners

  • Increasing funding for K-12 education, school lunches & universal Pre-K

  • Expanding rural & municipal broadband

  • Increasing funding for EMS providers

  • Increasing funding for municipal roads & bridges

  • Increasing funding for child care centers, workers & subsidies for working families

  • Expanding use of alternatives to incarceration

  • Ensuring ultra-wealthy corporations pay their fair share of taxes

Anna has also authored and passed environmental legislation to:

  • Ban CO2 fracking statewide

  • Increase state Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure

  • Block state permitting of a proposed trash incinerator on the shore of Cayuga Lake

  • Secure an additional $500 million in the state budget for drinking & sewer water infrastructure to improve resiliency in the face of the climate crisis

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The issues that Anna has been championing for years are issues that must be fought and won at the local, state and federal levels. Anna Kelles is ready, willing, and able to continue being your voice at those decision-making tables. She will continue to take her experience and our community’s values and priorities to Albany.

Issues

 

Explore the issues that Anna is fighting for in Albany on behalf of you and your family.