A second special election will take place in Westchester on April 24, as voters from New Rochelle and Pelham vote to select their next county legislator in District 11. Former longtime County Legislator Jim Maisano stepped down to take a position in County Executive George Latimer’s administration, creating the open seat and the special election.
Maisano, a Republican, represented the district for 21 years, and the Moderate-Republican leaning district is the perfect fit, in our view, for Jim Freeman to represent the residents on the County Board of Legislators in White Plains.
First, Freeman is the type of Moderate-Republican that has served not only this district, but all of Westchester County for decades. Freeman is not a “Trump Republican,” and is a lifelong resident of New Rochelle. He is a parent, coach, attorney and volunteer in the community.
Second, Freeman has identified the number-one issue in county government as controlling spending and keeping any future property tax increase at or below the property tax cap. Despite the election of Latimer over former County Executive Rob Astornio last November, Westchester residents still pay the highest property taxes in the nation, and under Latimer and a Democratic supermajority on the county board, our county taxes will certainly rise in the future.
Our Sound View and Pelham Rising newspapers support elected officials who will vow to keep property taxes below the property tax cap, which was pushed through by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2011. For those who don’t support the property tax cap, or believe that governments can’t work under its limitation, we refer them to Cuomo, and point to the overburdened Westchester homeowner and taxpayer.
Freeman’s opponent is Terry Clements, an educator in New Rochelle and a member of the New Rochelle Democratic Committee and the New York State Democratic Committee. Clements has proven herself to be a well-informed candidate who, like Freemen, is interested in moving up the ladder of community service into elective office.
During a recent debate, when asked if she would vote for county budgets that exceed the property tax cap if elected, Clements answered, “I can’t promise anything.” While we applaud Clements for her honesty, we do not agree with her unwillingness to vote for budgets that exceed the property tax cap.
Keeping Westchester affordable, for those who have lived here for decades, remains the most important issue in county government. That is our belief; perhaps this election will once and for all, prove us wrong.
We also believe in having a vibrant two-party government that gives the voters a clear choice when they go to the polls every year. Westchester is in jeopardy of losing such a choice and option. Currently, Republicans hold four seats on the county board, with Democrats with 12 seats.
Freeman represents a Moderate-Republican that voters of any party should be able to vote for. This election means a lot more to the people of Westchester than just filling a seat. It is the Alamo of local elections, and Freeman is the Davey Crockett of our time.
We endorse Jim Freeman for county legislator, 11th District, on April 24.
