Yonkers City Council President Mike Khader today launched his re-election campaign in an official video announcement, kicking off his second citywide campaign with a look back at his first three years in office, and offering a preview of his case to Yonkers voters in the coming race.
“I am proud to be running on my record,” said Council President Khader. “Four years ago, I campaigned on my ability to bring meaningful change to our city. While there is still much work to do, I am incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve during my first term in office, and I look forward to the campaign as an opportunity to continue to engage with Yonkers residents and share my vision for our great city.”
In his first three years as Council President, Khader positioned himself as a pragmatic, independent voice on the Yonkers City Council. Khader’s legislative program has included measures to freeze out of control water rates paid by Yonkers residents, increase affordable housing options, and increase local government transparency. Council President Khader has also successfully passed a variety of changes to the Yonkers City Code to bolster local quality of life by taking action against vacant lots and buildings, and expand local parking options.
As Council President, Khader opposed the 2018 extension of term limits, and voted against property tax increases in 2019. Throughout the pandemic, Khader has worked on the front lines of delivering relief to struggling neighborhoods, and successfully advocated to deliver one million dollars to Yonkers Public Schools students for technology needed for distance learning.
“COVID-19 has exacerbated many problems in our city, and has laid bare fundamental inequalities in our community,” added Khader. “In the coming years, our city will be forced to confront the lingering damage to our community caused by this pandemic. My platform in the coming election is one of relief, recovery, and reform. At City Hall, we must do everything we can to deliver sustained economic relief to residents; that means tightening our belts while maintaining essential services and not raising taxes on already strained families. Local government has a huge part to play in our recovery from the pandemic, and we must do everything we can to help students return to school, workers return to jobs, and businesses return to storefronts.”
Khader has said for some time that he expects an opponent, either from within the democratic party or a republican challenger in November. Yonkers Democrats will meet on Jan 27 to select their endorsed nominees, and set the stage for upcoming democratic primaries on June 22.
“I look forward to an active, issues-focused campaign in the days ahead. I truly believe that the best days for our city lay ahead of us, and I look forward to a robust discussion in our community as to how best to move our city forward.”
Khader was a first time candidate who was elected Council President in 2017, defeating incumbent Liam McLaughlin.
