Imamura Resigns to Run for Shimsky’s County Board Seat
By Dan Murphy
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins announced her appointment of Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins to the NYS Independent Redistricting Commission. Stewart-Cousins made the announcement on Nov. 16 shortly after Westchester attorney David Imamura announced that he was resigning to run for the Westchester County Board seat currently held by MaryJane Shimsky. Shimsky was elected to the Assembly on Nov. 8.
“I am proud to nominate Ken Jenkins as my appointee to the independent redistricting commission,” said Stewart-Cousins. “Ken has been a highly effective Deputy County Executive for Westchester, bringing steady leadership and balanced solutions to our constituents with a rich background in community service. Throughout his career, Ken has fought for our working families by supporting fairer tax policies, affordable childcare, and local economic development. His commitment goes beyond public office, having also served on the boards of several outreach organizations and as the president of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP for over five years. He will bring real-world insight and expertise to this important role and will be a valuable addition to the commission’s efforts.”
“I also want to thank David Imamura for his clear-eyed leadership as chair of the Independent Redistricting Commission. We are grateful for his commitment to ensuring that New Yorkers across the state had a chance to weigh in on the process and for conducting the proceedings fairly and impartially. I wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Stewart-Cousins.
Imamura, an attorney with the law firm of Abrams Fensterman LLP, served as Chair of the Commission for two years. Shimsky will take office as the new Assembly member in the 92nd District on Jan. 1. A special election will then be held sometime in 2023.
Jenkins new appointment is important because the commission has less than two weeks to draft new lines for the NYS Assembly. This summer State Supreme Court Judge Patrick McAllister ruled that the Assembly lines drawn by state legislators were unconstitutional
Jenkins joins a 10-member commission that Imamura, on his departure, said was dysfunctional and deadlocked between members from both major parties. “There’s effectively no way the commission will be able to come to an agreement,” Imamura added of the current model.
