"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer."

John F. Kennedy

About Rick. 

Rick Donah

My Values 

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Family comes first. 
  • Integrity matters.
  • Justice should prevail. 
  • Service above self. 
  • Honesty is a given. 
  • Humility is a gift. 
  • Bipartisanship is a must. 

Born in the rural Adirondack community of Tupper Lake, New York,


He graduated at the top of his Tupper Lake Lumberjacks High School class in 1985 and went on to graduate from Syracuse University with a degree in History and Political Science.   After college, he moved to the Colorado, California & then Seattle, building a pioneering technology company called Payroll Online Corporation.  In 2005, the company was sold to Key Bank.  Upon his return to New York State, he worked in Marketing and Public Relations for the Lake Placid based USA Luge National Team.  In 2010, he returned to his hometown of Tupper Lake and began revitaling the Big Tupper Ski Area and P-2's Irish Pub.  In 2015, he founded the Union Block Building, LLC, an affordable housing business and property management company.  In 2018, he was hired by New York State OPWDD as the Region 3 Project Coordinator for the rollout of the Electronic Health Record software program.  He continues to support the staff of OPWDD as the EHR Administrator for Sunmount and Capital DDSO's in 2021.  


While working as a Village Trustee, he helped design the first combined Village and Town website, chairing the committee to build a much needed emergency services building to house the Fire and Police departments of the Village of Tupper Lake.  In addition, he oversaw the development of the TL Municipal Park Master Plan, the newly completed Junction Pass rail trail, the volunteer restoration of Big Tupper Ski Area, and the continuing renovation of the Park Street Business District.   His management experience and creative thinking has been instrumental in helping the community work smarter to re-invent itself.  


His family has been in business in Tupper Lake since the 1930's.  His love for the community of Tupper Lake comes from a deep seated belief in hard work, investing in the local economy, and supporting his neighbors.  He has spent the last three decades as an entrepreneur and civic leader, volunteering his time for various organizations and advocating for the community of Tupper Lake.