Betsy Kaplan Award - 2022 - to Debbie Pahler

First awarded in 2002, the Betsy Kaplan Award was created by the Saint Lawrence Republican Executive Committee in honor of the late Betsy Kaplan. In the 1980s and 1990s, Betsy Kaplan was the heart and soul of the Saint Lawrence Republican County Committee.  The Award is bestowed to Debbie in honor of Mrs Kaplan in recognition of Debbie's long and faithful service to the Saint Lawrence Republican County Committee.

Debbie Pahler was selected as the 2022 recipient of the Committee's Betsy Kaplan Award at an event held on October 15th, 2022. Many SLC Republicans know Debbie from when she was initially a Deputy Commissioner for Jackie White at the County Board of Elections, and then was repeatedly elected as the Republican Commissioner there until her retirement. Debbie is still active assisting in county election preparations, consistent with her lifelong engagement in civic and GOP activities: Young Republicans and Teenage Republicans in the Albany area, the Women's Republican Club in our county, the Town of Potsdam and Saint Lawrence County Republican Committees - holding various positions in those organizations.


The 2022 Betsy Kaplan Award was presented to Debbie during an evening of tribute to the late great Eldon Conklin, as we honored his memory and legacy at the Community Center venue which now bears his name in Gouverneur. Dozens of electeds, candidates, staff, fellow retirees, and committee members were in attendance for a spectacular evening catered by Fobare’s BBQ & Catering Co.


Congratulations, and our deepest thanks, Debbie!