FEC Doc Declaring Candidacy Premature
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, left, with County Executive George Latimer
By Dan Murphy
Westchester County Executive George Latimer recently returned from a three-day trip to Israel with several other Westchester elected officials to view the aftermath of the October 7 attacks by Hamas. The trip was sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Council and UJA.
During the trip, Latimer met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and Israeli families waiting for their relatives held hostage to come home. Latimer and the delegation, which included Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, BOL Chair Vedat Gashi, County Legislator Margaret Cunzio, and New Rochelle Mayor-elect Yadira Ramos-Herbert. also visited a hospital and a kibbutz.
Latimer was clearly moved by the trip and the plight of the Israeli people. But he also pointed to the right of every American to protest their own country.
Latimer spoke about the crisis in the middle east and how lucky we are in the United States. His lengthy comments during his weekly address about the history of antisemitism and the Nazis only underscored the belief of many, that he is planning a run for Congress against Congressman Jamaal Bowman.
“President Biden has a policy towards Israel and I am well aware of the protests. I don’t have a George Latimer plan for peace, but history will repeat itself if we do not understand the lessons that it teaches us,” said Latimer who made no comments about a possible run against Bowman, except to say, “I’ve got a lot to think about.”
Before Latimer’s weekly address, a document from the FEC (Federal Election Commission) circulated in the media in which Latimer signed a statement of candidacy for Congress in the 16th District of NY, currently held by Bowman.
Some called the FEC document premature, while others predicted a Friday Dec. 8 announcement. But the cat was out of the bag, and in a Politico story, Latimer touted his record as County Executive, calling Westchester County government under his leadership “the most progressive” in New York.
“We’ve cut taxes and reduced crime, but we’ve also made the buses environmentally friendly,” Latimer said. “We’ve done Black maternal health; we’ve built recreational communities in the heart of poor communities. I’ve done a ton of things that represent progressive government”
Latimer, who just turned 70, said to Politico Bowman “has been in Congress for three years, and I’ve done a bunch of things over the past three decades.” “Right now, in Congress, a lot of it is showtime down there. A lot of it is posturing and culture wars.”
The Politico story can be found at-.https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/30/bowman-latimer-primary-00129360.
Westchester appears to be heading towards two of its most interesting Congressional elections in some time, with Latimer challenging Bowman and Rep. Mike Lawler against former Rep. Mondaire Jones in the 17th NY-District.
