Rising Media and Yonkerstimes.com endorse Ken Jenkins for Westchester County Executive in the special election on February 11.
In the short time that Jenkins has served as County Executive since being appointed by the Board of Legislators, he has shown himself ready for the job. He has hit the ground running with innovative proposals and fresh ideas.
We endorse Jenkins for several reasons: First, he has the experience to serve the people of Westchester. Jenkins was elected a County Legislator representing Yonkers and also served as BOL Chair. In 2010, when Jenkins was BOL Chair, and Rob Astorino was County Executive, Jenkins proposed a property tax cut for homeowners who faced the highest property taxes in the country today and still do.
Astorino had proposed a 1% tax cut, while Jenkins proposed a 2% tax cut. Astorino vetoed Jenkins’s additional property tax cut (why, we will never know), but Jenkins and the BOL overrode that veto. Still, in our view, the instance shows that Jenkins is serious about giving homeowners and taxpayers a break whenever possible.
As Deputy County Executive for 7 years under Latimer, Westchester County Budgets came in with a 0% property tax levy increase in six of those seven years. We are confident that Jenkins had input on those budgets and in providing property tax relief.
Jenkins also had 7 years to be a partner with Latimer in leading county government. Now Jenkins is ready to lead Westchester into the future.
We appreciate that Ken and his wife, Deborah Hudson-Jenkins, have lived in Yonkers since their marriage in 1982 and raised their children here. More than 40 years in Westchester give Jenkins firsthand experience about the challenges facing families in the county.
Jenkins has also worked in the private sector, building a career in telecommunications and technology with Apple, AT&T, Bell Atlantic, New York Telephone (Verizon), NYNEX, and Seer Technologies, and as a real estate agent.
Jenkins was also a political commentator for News 12 during its political heyday a while ago. He has a unique and interesting professional background that will serve the people of Westchester well.
Much like Latimer, Jenkins is known all over Westchester due to his numerous organizations Jenkins’ extensive public and community involvement includes board service with the Greyston Foundation, United Way, Westchester County District Attorney’s Community Advisory Committee, Westchester County Crime Stoppers and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. He served as President of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP and the Yonkers Community Action Program.
The comfort that the people of Westchester already have with Jenkins is an important reason that warrants his election. Jenkins represents a generation of Westchester residents who have stayed in Westchester when others have left for places across the country.
We applaud Chris Sculti for running on the republican party line and giving voters in Westchester a choice when they cast their ballot for County Executive. But we are disappointed that Sculti declined to debate Jenkins at a League of Women Voters forum. (See story on pg 14).
Most Westchester voters need to be reminded that there is a special election on February 11.
When Jenkins accepted the endorsement of Black Pastors from Westchester, one pastor said, “It’s his time.” We agree,
Ken Jenkins experience, integrity, and commitment to our county make him the ideal leader to take on the role of Westchester County Executive.
We endorse Ken Jenkins for Westchester County Executive in the special election on February 11 and in early voting.
