By Dan Murphy
As “Westchester’s Congresswoman” Nita Lowey finished out her final year in Congress, and recently endorsed Mike Bloomberg for president (more on that next week), the several democrats seeking to replace her in the 17th District (mid-northern Westchester and Rockland County) made some news.
First a correction: In a story about the race to replace Lowey last month, we did not include a democratic candidate. Democrat Adam Schleifer has $1 million in his campaign account – the most of any candidate. Most of it comes from a personal contribution to the campaign.
Shleifer, 38, from Chappaqua, is a former assistant U.S. attorney and son of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals founder Leonard Shleifer. “As a former assistant U.S. attorney and New York State consumer-protection regulator, Adam has spent the better part of his professional career standing up to bullies, fraudsters and cheats – fighting to ensure that every person gets a fair opportunity to pursue their version of the American dream,” according to his campaign.
“He has taken on predatory lenders and scam artists who try to cheat the system and cut the line; he has stopped perpetrators of sexual violence and stood up for survivors of sexual assault; he has taken guns off of our streets and out of the hands of criminals; and he has protected our clean air by prosecuting a vehicle-emissions fraud ring.” (Learn more at www.adamschleifer.com.)
Assemblyman David Buchwald, who has the most endorsements from local democrats and local democratic committees, picked up another endorsement last month from the Yorktown Democratic Committee. All seven Democratic committees that have made endorsements in the NY-17 congressional race have backed Buchwald.
“I am proud to have the Yorktown Democrats supporting my campaign for Congress,” said Buchwald. “We are focused on engaging every community across NY-17 and it has been humbling to receive support from local Democrats from across the district. From preventing gun violence to protecting our environment to reinstating SALT exemptions, we have important work ahead and I am ready to deliver for Westchester and Rockland families.”
“We’re proud to support David Buchwald because the lower Hudson Valley needs an advocate like him in Congress,” said Yorktown Democratic Committee Co-Chairpersons Elliot Krowe and Ron Stokes. “He’s taken on the tough fights that actually matter to people in this region, from voting for the lowest tax rate on middle-class families in 60 years to successfully leading the charge on stripping pensions from corrupt public officials. Families in Westchester and Rockland counties deserve someone who knows how to get things done and we’re excited to be on Team Buchwald.”
Recently, the Greenburgh Democratic Committee tried something different and interesting, when it held a straw poll for the democratic candidates for Congress in District 17.
“Tonight, the Greenburgh Democrats tried something different in light of the large CD17 field: approval voting,” wrote Chairwoman Susan Berger. “We want a congressional representative to win with a strong mandate, not a small percentage of the primary voters. This is our first cut: We will facilitate petitioning for David Buchwald, Mondaire Jones, Allison Fine and Evelyn Farkas, each of who received more than 50 percent of the weighted vote tonight, with Assemblyman Buchwald in first place. Later, once the primary ballot is set, we’ll consider an endorsement. Now to work getting those signatures, starting Tuesday.”
After the straw poll, Jones claimed victory, with his opponents calling it fake news.
“Tonight, the Town of Greenburgh Democratic Committee voted to approve our campaign. I am honored to have the support of the committee as we enter the signature-gathering phase of the campaign. This has never been about me. It has always been about us,” posted Jones on social media, drawing the following response from a Greenburgh democrat: “Voted to approve? Yes you had some support, but the committee approved of 3 other campaigns too… hmm.”
Jones did receive the endorsement from the Hispanic Democrats of Westchester.
“This is a tremendous honor and I am excited for what we will accomplish together,” he said. “Together, we will create a just society that is inclusive at its core, and we will create a humane government that works for all people – regardless of surname, skin color, or economic means. When I’m in Congress, you won’t have to lobby me to be on the right side of history, and everyone in Washington will know about the vibrant Hispanic community in my district that comprises more than 20 percent of our population. Thank you for believing in me. Now, let’s win this.”
Now for the second test in this race, after fundraising: getting enough signatures to get on the ballot. Congressional candidates need at least 1,200 valid signatures of democrats in the district, which is not an easy task – even if it is a mild winter. If you are a democrat in the district, expect a knock on your door for your signature soon.
