County Legislator Virginia Perez is challenging perhaps the most powerful member of the Democratic Party on Sept. 13, State Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, in a Democratic primary for Stewart-Cousins’ Senate seat. Stewart-Cousins is hoping the “blue wave” will continue throughout New York State in November and she will become the majority leader of the State Senate; Perez is hoping to dream the impossible dream and defeat Stewart-Cousins in less than two weeks.
At her Senate announcement two weeks ago, Perez said: “I will work hard with everyone across the aisle in order to deliver for our Senate district and our residents… the same way I have been doing on the County Board of Legislators.” These comments beg the question: If Perez defeats Stewart-Cousins in a Democratic primary and goes onto Albany, will she caucus with her fellow Democrats, or will she vote with Republicans and give the majority leader gavel to Republican Sen. John Flanagan for another two years?
When Perez joined the County Board of Legislators in 2011, she joined with Democratic County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz and Republicans on the BOL to form a bipartisan majority and take power away from Democrats. Perez’ defection also gave power to former County Executive and Republican Rob Astorino, who was able to win passage of county budgets and other items with a coalition majority crafted with Perez. So Perez’ landmark achievement while on the County Board was that she worked cooperatively with Republicans, most notably Astorino.
Perez’ defection on the County Board is similar to the defections of Sen. Jeff Klein and Sen. David Carlucci, two Democrats who represent Westchester and who left the Democratic Caucus to form the Independent Democratic Conference. The IDC has worked with Republicans in the State Senate to form a majority and keep the majority out of the Democratic senators’ hands. This has denied Stewart-Cousins the ability to serve as majority leader of the State Senate.
Perez came out swinging against Stewart-Cousins in her announcement in Yonkers two weeks ago. “I am running because the residents of the 35th Senate District deserve better,” she said. “We have a senator that for over a decade has been more pre-occupied with the bickering, tug-of-war for power and partisan politics in Albany, rather than representing the needs of her constituents like:
“Delivering our fair share of state aid for our schools… delivering much needed state aide to her district, mandate relief so that hardworking taxpayers and their families are not taxed out of their homes, introducing term limits legislation and proposing legislation to make our communities safer.
“I know all too well the devastating effects that crime has on our communities and on a grieving family. Our senator has done nothing regarding the senseless violence that is running rampant through our streets. She has stood for nothing. I will propose legislation for harsher penalties and less plea deals for violent criminals, especially those convicted of a crime with an illegal gun,” said Perez, who lost her brother Martin Perez when he was shot and killed while working as a food delivery driver in 2007. An outraged Virginia Perez used her brother’s killing to run for office and try and change the dangerous environment and culture that killed her brother.
Her campaigns in southwest Yonkers for City Council and County Board over the past 10 years have made her a known commodity in that community. Perez enjoys the rigors of knocking on doors, collecting signatures, speaking with constituents in the primarily Latino part of Yonkers, and beating the party establishment in Yonkers by winning elections three times without the support of the party leaders.
But the 35th Senate District also includes Greenburgh, Mt. Pleasant and parts of Scarsdale, New Rochelle and White Plains, in addition to west Yonkers.
Every one of Perez’ Democratic colleagues on the County Board has endorsed Stewart-Cousins in this race.
