HARCKHAM ENDORSED BY KEY NYS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS & COUNTY LEGISLATORS
Abinanti, Borgia, Galef, Parker, Shimsky & Williams Note “Experience Matters” in NYS SD 40 Race
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Two key members of the NY State Assembly and four members of Westchester County’s Board of Legislators have endorsed Pete Harckham’s campaign for NY State Senator in District 40, stressing that Harckham’s experience and record of legislative accomplishment make him the most qualified candidate for the seat.
The endorsing Assembly members are Thomas Abinanti (AD 92) and Sandy Galef (AD 95). Westchester County legislators include Catherine Borgia (LD 9), Majority Leader Catherine Parker (LD7), Majority Whip MaryJane Shimsky (LD12) and Vice-Chair Alfreda Williams (LD8).
“I am proud to receive the support of Assembly members Sandy Galef and Tom Abinanti, who recognize that experience matters,” said Harckham. “I look forward to serving as the partner in the State Senate that they currently lack, and to pass important bills like the Reproductive Health Act, The Child Victims Act and Red Flag legislation to remove firearms temporarily from people deemed to be a threat to themselves or others. Together, we will fight for Hudson Valley values.”
“I am pleased to stand with Pete Harckham as the Democratic Candidate for the New York State Senate and to be my state senator. Endorsing Pete may be one of the few things Governor Cuomo and I agree on this year!,” Abinanti said, adding, “I have known Pete for more than ten years, and I saw how effective he could be when he and I served together on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. An environmentalist, Pete demonstrated his concern for clean drinking water and his ability to move government in the effort to build necessary infrastructure to deal with the sewage leaks into Peach Lake”. Abinanti also noted that “Harckham is a leader who can bring people together. He showed it as the Westchester County Legislator’s Majority Leader. He won and was re-elected in a district that had a Republican legislator before him and after he left”.
“I am happy to stand with Pete Harckham in his run for State Senate and I admired his work during his time as legislator and majority leader on the Westchester County Board of Legislators, said Galef. “His willingness to fight for people who may not have a voice and his commitment to stand up for what is just, regardless of political consequence, makes Pete a fearless progressive champion. He successfully fought housing discrimination in Westchester at a time when some would have preferred to turn a blind eye, and then he helped to fund affordable housing for seniors, our local workforce and the working poor. Having that background of experience and meaningful accomplishment is so important to being an effective legislator. I am looking forward to seeing what he achieves as our next state senator.
“I am grateful to my former colleagues on the Board of Legislators for their support,” said Harckham. “I look forward to working with them in the Senate to continue to advocate for progressive policies that will benefit all of our constituents.”
“I’m delighted to stand with Pete Harckham, a dedicated, effective, progressive public servant who I’m proud to call a friend and colleague,” said Borgia. “Together we fought to oppose both the Spectra and AIM pipelines, and worked to move Westchester County to embrace renewable energy. Let’s restore Democratic values to New York by electing Pete to the State Senate”.
“In the last year, we’ve won major victories in the Hudson Valley,” said Parker. “We elected George Latimer Westchester County Executive, defended his seat in blow out fashion with Shelley Mayer, flipped four seats in the Westchester County Legislature, and elected Robert Langley Putnam County Sheriff.” She added. “We can build on that momentum this November by flipping the 40th State Senate District and electing a great progressive, Pete Harckham who will give us the decisive vote we need to elect Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins as the Majority Leader of the State Senate next year, and flip the Republican Party’s current one vote advantage”.
I had the honor of serving with Pete on the Westchester Board of Legislators and know he is progressive yet pragmatic,” said Shimsky. “He co-sponsored many pieces of legislation that helped the environment and helped create jobs. He stood up for progressive values on tough fights like providing affordable child care while protecting the bottom line for taxpayers. Pete has proven he has what it takes to deliver positive change. That’s the kind of experience and leadership we need in Albany, which is why I’m proud to stand with Pete.
I stand with Pete because Pete has fought for a clean environment, affordable child care and fixing our infrastructure,” said Shimsky, adding “but progressive beliefs are not enough — we need elected officials who know how to get things done”. “Pete has worked cooperatively with government officials to build affordable housing. He quickly rose to leadership on the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where he became known for his integrity and his effectiveness. And his time working for New York State has given him the skill set to make that level of government work for our communities. I stand with Pete because Pete is the kind of leader we need to stand with us.
I am delighted to stand with Peter Harckham in his race for New York State Senate in Legislative District #40,” said Williams. “Peter is an outstanding candidate and during his time as a Westchester County Legislator was totally committed to improving the Environment and supporting Child Care Initiatives. The citizens in District #40 would be very fortunate to have him as New York State Senator”.
New York State Senate District 40 includes parts of Northern Westchester (Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, New Castle, North Salem, Peekskill, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Sleepy Hollow, Somers, Yorktown) Putnam (Brewster, Carmel, Patterson, Southeast) and Dutchess (Beekman, Pawling).
District residents interested in Harckham’s New York State Senate campaign can visit www.PeteForNY.com, http://www.facebook.com/PeteforNY and @PeteforNY on Twitter and Instagram to learn more, volunteer, or contribute.
