Two democratic candiates for Assembly in the 95th District are involved in a debate over petitions, with former Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey accusing County Legislator Colin Smith of wasting time money and hard work to try and get him out of the race.
Smith, Rainey, Dana Levenberg, and Vanessa Agudelo are all seeking to replace Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, who is retiring and not running for re-election.
Rainey states, “In January, I was the first candidate to announce the intention to run for the 95th Assembly District. Win or lose, I wanted to contribute to the conversation and to ensure that people like me, those whose voices are usually not heard in our political arena, would be seriously considered in this election. I see the mental health crisis unfolding, the financial hardship families are facing, and I understand the steps that need to be taken to preserve opportunity and wellness for our children. The everyday struggles I encountered growing up, and those that I saw as the Mayor of Peekskill, have anchored my mission in this race. I decided to run for this seat, because I will represent everyone and will advocate fiercely for those who are struggling.
“When I entered this race, I knew it would not be simple. We would need to mobilize thousands of voters
through months of community outreach, canvassing neighborhoods, and building a team of dedicated
volunteers. I expected that my biggest challenge would be earning each voter’s support, one vote at a
time. And then, of course, the Republican opponents. But that is not the case.
“Over the past two weeks, County Legislator Colin Smith had his campaign staff pour through my petition
signatures. And today, the Board of Elections has notified me that Colin has submitted a formal challenge
to my petition in order to get me out of his way, remove me from the ballot, and give you fewer choices
on Election Day. Instead of facing me down at debates and on the ballot, Colin simply wants to take me
out of the race.
“I’ve never treated politics as a game. When I campaigned to become mayor of Peekskill, Republicans
used everything they had to run against me – my family, my race, even my work with children. In this
race, I see my old friend and colleague Colin Smith pouring money into a legal gamble to remove me
from the ballot. But in this race, as in the Peekskill race, I choose to focus my attention on the issues
facing my community and those who I represent.
“Let’s be clear: When the dust settles, I will be on the ballot. We’ve seen this happen across the country, to
good Democratic candidates up and down the ticket. Colin knows these challenges won’t stick, but they
also won’t go away without time, money and more hard work.”
