Harckham Earns the Endorsements of the Westchester Journal News, Bedford-Pound Ridge Record-Review, and the Mount. Kisco Examiner

Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah) has swept the endorsements of three of Westchester County’s most respected local newspapers, announcing on Friday that the Westchester Journal News, Bedford-Pound Ridge Record-Review, and the Mount Kisco Examiner are all backing his candidacy in the special election for New York’s 89th Assembly District.

Citing his record as a bipartisan consensus builder in county government, the Westchester Journal News described Harckham as a candidate who, “has demonstrated that he has the ability to reach out across the aisle and work with those who hold opposing points of view.” Harckham, “is also among a cadre of legislators who have fought for increased cost cutting,” the Journal News continued, pointing out his record of “spearhead[ing] tougher DWI laws and [fighting] for cost-effective measure to protect the watershed.”

County Legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah), the Democratic candidate for the special election in New York’s 89th State Assembly district, has called on state legislators to ease the property tax burden on local governments by putting an end to unfunded mandates that cost county taxpayers millions of dollars every year.

Citing Medicaid, which will cost Westchester residents $207 million in property taxes this year, as a primary example, Harckham said, “We could reduce the county portion of property taxes tomorrow by a third if New York funded Medicaid like 48 other states do. Only New York and North Carolina pass these costs on to property tax payers.”

In addition, 12 northern Westchester towns in the East of Hudson NYC watershed are facing combined costs of $80 million in order to meet mandated phosphorus reduction targets for drinking water as part of the new MS-4 Stormwater Permit.

Said Harckham, “It is vital that Albany finds a way to ease the tax burden on New Yorkers by putting a stop to unfunded mandates and finding better, more cost effective ways to pay for important infrastructure without passing the cost on to property taxpayers. Unfunded mandates from the state and federal government are hitting Westchester’s residents directly in their wallets at a time when our national and state economies are already facing serious crises. We need fiscally responsible leadership in Albany that will step up to the plate and finally put an end to unfunded mandates. I’m running for the Assembly because it’s time for a fresh, bipartisan approach that will ease this crushing burden for New York’s families and communities.”

The special election for the 89th Assembly District will be held on February 9th.

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Pete Harckham has announced his strong opposition to Governor Paterson’s proposed cuts of millions of dollars in school aid for Westchester County, and vowed that if elected to the Assembly, he will work across party lines in Albany to ensure that Westchester’s schools maintain vital funding from the state.

Said Harckham, “Further cuts in state aid to our public schools will only add to the property tax burden. We’ve got to stop shifting costs from Albany to our school districts and municipalities.”

Under Paterson’s proposed budget, Westchester schools face cuts of millions of dollars for the 2010-2011 academic year. If passed, the cuts could mean steep property tax hikes for Westchester residents as local school districts try to make up for the losses in their budget proposals this spring. Among the cuts proposed in the Governor’s budget: Katonah- Lewisboro - $694,288; Bedford - $722,204; Harrison - $484,513; Chappaqua - $718,805; Byram Hills - $367,414 and White Plains - $2,429,148.

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White Plains Mayor and former State Assemblyman Adam Bradley has announced that he is endorsing Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah) in the special election to fill his previous position representing New York’s 89th Assembly District.

“I’m proud to offer my strong endorsement to Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham for my former seat in New York’s 89th State Assembly District,” said Bradley. “Our district needs someone with a thoughtful, common sense, bipartisan approach to government which is what Pete has stood for his entire career. I have witnessed Pete successfully work with every level of government regardless of political affiliation. That is why I support Pete to take my place as the next Assemblyman from the 89th Assembly District.”

The special election for the 89th Assembly District will be held on February 9th.

Delegates from Westchester's 89th Assembly District Choose Peter Harckham as their Candidate for Special Election in New York's 89th Assembly District

White Plains, NY - Westchester County legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah) has been officially nominated by the Westchester Democratic Party as their candidate in the special election to fill the seat of Adam Bradley in New York's 89th State Assembly District. Mr. Harckham's primary opponent in the race was Alison Greene, an accomplished attorney and former executive director of the Westchester County Human Rights Commission with a long record of service to Westchester County.

Harckham, who was the first candidate to enter the race last month, won the nomination Thursday night in a mini-convention of county delegates from the 89th AD. "It is with great pride and humility that I accept your nomination for New York State Assembly," said Harckham.

Westchester County legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah) has officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the special election to fill the unexpired term of Adam Bradley in the 89th New York State Assembly District. Harckham made his announcement on Tuesday, December 1st, at the Westchester County Democratic Committee headquarters in White Plains. He was joined by a large group of supporters and elected officials from the County Board of Legislators, as well as representatives from seven of the townships located in the 89th Assembly District.

"This is not a political opportunity I sought out, but it is a challenge I will not walk away from," said Harckham. "Anyone can serve in government during good times; yet those of us who are truly committed to public service know that the judgments of history rest on how we act during challenging times."

Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham was reelected by voters in the 2nd Legislative District to serve another two-year term on the County Board. In an election that saw low voter turnout and resulted in several prominent incumbents going down to defeat, Harckham actually saw his vote total increase by 15% over his 2007 totals signaling strong support across the district and across party lines.

On October 19th, the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted overwhelmingly to approve legislation sponsored by Peter Harckham (D, WF, I Katonah) to crack down on drunken drivers. The vote was 12-4 and County Executive Andy Spano quickly signed the legislation into law. The bill would authorize the county to bring forfeiture proceedings against drivers convicted of DWI who had been arrested by Westchester County Police.

The Board of Legislators Septic Subcommittee, chaired by Legislator Pete Harckham, has completed creation of a shared services program for municipalities to address the new State MS-4 septic requirements that call for municipalities to inspect all septic systems during the period covered by the new permit.