Westchester County Executive and Congressional candidate George Latimer
By Dan Murphy
Westchester County Executive and now official candidate for Congress George Latimer spent some time with Rising Media to discuss his campaign to unseat Congressman Jamaal Bowman next year. Latimer and Bowman are both democrats and will compete in a democratic primary in the 16th Congressional district, which includes most of lower-mid Westchester next June.
“Democrats in the district are getting a choice between two progressives. I am running on all the progressive things we have done in Westchester County government,” said Latimer who highlighted increases in health funding for lower income residents, free bus service, and completing capital projects in the county including Memorial Field in Mt. Vernon and Sprain Ridge Pool in Yonkers. “We have also managed the migrants with no crime issues. I have done all of this in a reasonable way.”
“Their game plan (Bowman campaign) is to say that they are progressive, and they are running against someone on the right. But when you have someone who has a progressive record to run on, and who has actually accomplished things and is deeply rooted in the Westchester communities that make up the 16th district, it’s a problem for their narrative. They are apoplectic because they can’t frame me in the way they want to,” said Latimer.
Supporters of Bowman have aggressively pushed back against Latimer’s candidacy. Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) Tweeted about Latimer’s use of Dr. King’s famous words, “don’t judge me by the color of my skin, judge me by the content of my character,” in an interview with Gothamist. “Quoting MLK to justify a cynical effort to unseat the only Black man representing Westchester & one of the few in Congress who stand for the human rights of Palestinians is repulsive. It’s time to organize with electoral force,” tweeted AOC.
Latimer’s MLK reference made Politico’s quote of the day, and Westchester progressives hoped to pounce on what they called Latimer’s shaky rollout of his congressional campaign. “Instead of the strong announcement he wanted, he went viral for his MLK comments, POLITICO has him as the quote of the day this AM (for unfavorable reasons), and he admitted to speaking with his second-in-command Ken Jenkins around redistricting in his Gothamist piece (contradicting an earlier interview). Latimer’s been a formidable campaigner at the city and county level. But how many times he’s already stepped in it–in just a single week–raises questions s about whether he’s ready for a high-profile primary like this,” said one leader in the NY Working Families Party, who has already endorsed Bowman’s reelection.
Latimer shook off the critiques and said, “I have not heard any of this from the people in the district-the people of Westchester who know me and see me in their communities. “I want to offer progressive policies with results -but also to work across the aisle and respect the other side. We don’t have to vilify each other. Its how you choose to do your job. That is what I am hearing from my democratic friends in the 16th District.” What this comes down to is who can be effective in congress for the people. Let the people make their own choice-
Latimer challenged the notion that Bowman, a sitting two-term incumbent Congressman, should not be challenged. “Four years ago he made the decision to run against Eliot Engel, a sitting Congressman. The people were given a choice then, and to say they can’t have a choice now is divisive.
Latimer also pushed back against the belief by some that he cannot or should not run against an incumbent, black member of Congress. “I’m not black, but I have a record of opening doors for black leadership. I supported Loiz Bronz for Chair of the County Board, and I supported Andrea Stewart-Cousins for State Senate when she first ran. I also picked Ken Jenkins to be my Deputy County Executive.”
Some in the media called Latimer’s congressional campaign an attempted “Crucifixion” of Bowman. “As a Catholic, I find it outrageous to use the word Crucifixion about a political campaign. Nobody is being forced to support Latimer and people can make their own decision if they endorse him or me. A lot of Westchester democrats have worked with me for years and I am in most of the Westchester towns and cities in the district 5-10 times a month.”
“I plan on campaigning everywhere. I’m not writing off anything and I cede nothing. I represented Yonkers in the State Senate for four years. The question that voters need to ask is who will accomplish more in Congress?”
Latimer recently visited Israel and received a letter from 26 Westchester Rabbis urging him to challenge Bowman. Latimer said that support from the Jewish community is only one part of his coalition. “The idea that I’m someone’s puppet is nonsense. I have never been that over my career in public service.”
When asked about support for his campaign coming from AIPAC, (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), Latimer pointed out that NY members of Congress, including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Gregory Meeks and Grace Meng have all received support from AIPAC. “The majority of my fundraising and support will come from Westchester. His money will come from outside Westchester, from a nationwide network.”
Why is the Latimer-Bowman contest the talk of the town in Westchester political circles? “Because they are trying to create a narrative that isn’t credible, and they are afraid that someone from “The Squad” might lose a primary. Maybe I’m the guy with the grass roots support from Westchester democrats. He makes great speeches, but what has he done to represent his community? Let us both run on our records.”
One more political fact about George Latimer—He hasn’t lost an election since 1987, spanning from the Rye City Council -to the Westchester County Board of Legislators-to the NYS Assembly-and NYS Senate and two terms as County Executive.
