What a long process this has been … from the Independence Party petitions and challenges in the summer to the primary in September to the slings and arrows of debates in October. To now, where I am proud to report that the preliminary results reflect my 54% to 46% win over my opponent.

Six years ago I embarked on an incredible journey. I took the plunge out of my comfort zone as a Mamaroneck Town Councilwoman to run for Westchester County Legislator – and I won! And these past six years remain some of the best in my life, with accomplishments for which I will forever be proud. Environmental accomplishments, such as nitrogen reduction in the Long Island Sound; the ban of phosphate fertilizer; and of course, the storm water management legislation that will enable the county to continue its all important role in helping to mitigate and reduce flooding.

I’ve had public health accomplishments: Calorie Labeling legislation that allows us to know more about what we eat. And accomplishments such as the childcare scholarships that increased access to quality child care for working parents, and of course the successful passage of a lease for the Westchester Children’s Museum!

These past six years have also strengthened my belief in the democratic process, have made me even more grateful to be an American, and have made me realize how blessed I am to live in Westchester County. They have strengthened my resolve to keep Westchester great, and to block the wholesale destruction of the quality of life that we’ve built here, all in the name of spending cuts. I continue to believe in investment, in jobs, and in balancing the budget — but not on the backs of those who can least afford it. And I continue to believe that public health, public safety, the environment, and our infrastructure are not “Wasteful Spending”! These past six years have also proven to me, once again, the value of friendship and community. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped this campaign, from email blasts to phone banks to train station duty. And I thank all of my friends, new and old, who opened their homes and their wallets to me. I will reach out individually to each of you, but in the meantime… THANK YOU!

Democrat Judy Myers, who also appears on the Working Families and Independence lines, joined the board after a special election in 2005, filling the seat vacated by George Latimer when he moved to the Assembly. Her opponent is Republican and Conservative Suzanna Keith, who was elected to the Rye City Council a year ago. Keith, who works in marketing, is full of zingers. She derides Myers for being part of a tax-and-spend board that has made property taxes in Westchester the highest in the nation; the talking point largely ignores the role of taxpayer-driven school taxes, or the significant and unique role that unfunded state mandates play in boosting local costs. And like many of the GOP challengers, Keith has adopted the administration’s divisive position on the 2009 fair housing settlement, which she opposes. We believe the smarter position was the one taken by lawmakers in 2009: Rather than expose taxpayers to some $500 million in liability — the possible fallout from a final defeat in the housing case — the board agreed to a settlement that requires the county to build 750 units of needed affordable housing, with subsidies amounting to a bare fraction of $500 million.

Our recommendation is for Myers, who in her brief tenure on the board has been part of bipartisan efforts to reduce the cost and size of county government. Her smart approach to cuts makes sense — inasmuch as District 7 is composed of diverse communities with differings needs. Myers’ talents will be called on even more in the years ahead, as tax-cap pressures make for harder choices and difficult politics. So far, she has been up to the task.

Today, Sierra Club leaders from the Lower Hudson Group announced their endorsement of Democrat Judy Myers in the race for Westchester County Board of Legislators District 7.

Myers represents many critical environmental areas along the Long Island Sound and has played a key role in county environmental planning over the past six years. Her accomplishments include the clean up of Davids Island in New Rochelle, made possible through county funding and a substantial federal grant, the on-going bionutrient removal project in the county’s wastewater treatment plants, and the successful effort to keep a natural gas liquification plant from being sited in the middle of the Long Island Sound.

Because flooding is an on-going and critical threat to the public health and safety and security of her district, Myers served as an original member of the County’s Flood Task Force. She brought flood mitigation funding to the Mamaroneck, Larchmont and Rye communities after the 2007 floods. This year, she successfully co-authored legislation establishing a Stormwater Advisory Board to help in the execution of a new Stormwater Management plan for the county that includes funding for flood mitigation measures within the county.

Through her participation as a voting member of the County Board of Health, Myers is able to oversee petroleum bulk storage compliance in the county and septic regulations and compliance. She continues to advocate against the development of the Marcellus Shale without further research into the danger of hydrofracking, the gas drilling method which permanently destroys aquifers, surrounding ecosystems and homeowner property value, and an independent review by the EPA.

Sierra Club leaders urge the residents of District 7, including residents of New Rochelle, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, Rye and part of Harrison who care about clean water, clean air, and a reduction of climate change, to re-elect Judy Myers to the Board of Legislators.

Legislators make decisions for more than 40 departments that directly affect
you and the community, such as:

• Public buses
• Park and recreation fees
• Affordable child care
• Immunization clinics
• Summer programs for children and youth
• Senior citizen services.

VOTE for KIDS released a scorecard showing each Legislator’s record on youth funding for the 2011 budget, and Judy Myers received straight A’s.

VOTE for KIDS is spearheaded by Westchester Children’s Association (WCA). For more information, please visit www.wca4kids.org.

Congratulations! On behalf of the Board of Directors at Eleanor’s Legacy, I’m pleased to share with you that your campaign has received an endorsement for the 2011 election cycle. Attached is a template press release which you can use to announce this endorsement. We will also be promoting your campaign to our members and at our upcoming luncheon.

As many of you know, this year’s endorsement and grant decisions are being conducted in a two-step process. We will be able to make final decisions regarding campaign grants following the fundraising luncheon on October 24th.

Every time a qualified, progressive Democratic woman runs for office she helps women’s voices to be heard and inspires those around her. We wish you the best of luck on the campaign trail. Please reply if you have any questions.

Best,
Zoe Kenney