Call to Action Campaign To Host Debates Between Candidates for Key State Senate Races in Westchester

Aug. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- As part of its initiative to educate voters about the positions of candidates seeking New York State legislature seats from Westchester, The Westchester County Association’s Call to Action Campaign will host candidate debates in three key state senate races.

The debates will focus on where the candidates stand on issues impacting the future of the state such as balanced budgets, taxes, spending, unfunded mandates and reviving the state’s economy.

The debate schedule is:

Tuesday, September 28, 6 PM, Senate District 35 (includes part of the City of Yonkers, Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Ardsley, Irvington, Elmsford, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow and Pleasantville):  Incumbent Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (Democrat) (Working Family) and Liam McLaughlin (Republican) (Conservative), to be held at Mercy College, 555 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry.

Wednesday, October 6, 6 PM, Senate District 40, an open seat that has been vacated by Vincent Leibell (Republican). In Westchester, the district includes Croton-on-Hudson, Bedford, Mt. Kisco, Lewisboro, Buchanan, Peekskill, Cortlandt, Yorktown, North Salem, Somers and Pound Ridge. The challengers will be Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz (Democrat) and the winner of the September 14  Republican primary: Greg Ball or Mary Beth Murphy, at Yorktown Stage, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown. Co-hosted by Yorktown Chamber of Commerce and Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday, October 20, 6 PM, Senate District 37 (includes New Rochelle, Rye, White Plains, Harrison, Mamaroneck, New Castle, North Castle, Ossining and Scarsdale.)  Incumbent Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (Democrat) (Working Family) and Bob Cohen (Republican) (Conservative) (Independent) at 800 Westchester Avenue, Rye Brook.  

Two prominent area journalists will be the moderators: Richard French III, General Manager/Host, Richard French Live, RNN-TV and Caryn McBride, Editor, Fairfield County Business Journal, Westchester County Business Journal, Fairfield County Business Journal, and  HV Biz.

In addition to the debates, the WCA’s Call to Action Campaign has been asking all state legislature candidates to sign a pledge, committing them to return the state to financial  stability and economic competiveness.

The pledge asks the candidates to commit to the following:

- A balanced budget completed on time and without increased taxes, fees, assessment or borrowing

- Full disclosure of all outside income

- A non-partisan commission to redraw legislative district lines

- To vote against any unfunded mandates

WCA President Bill Mooney said: “We invite the public to attend these debates in    order to hear where the candidates stand on these key issues so that they can make an informed decision when they go to the polls on November 2.”

Information about the debates and a list of candidates who have signed the pledge are available at http://www.CalltoActionCampaign.org.

The WCA’s Call to Action Campaign has gained broad-based support from local, regional and state-based organizations including the Long Island Association, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Unshackle Upstate, the Building and Realty Institute, Builders Institute, Construction Industry Council, Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association, Sleepy Hollow Chamber of Commerce, Westchester Bankers Association, Westchester County Medical Society, Westchester Hotel Association and Yorktown Chamber of Commerce.

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The Westchester County Association is the preeminent business membership organization in Westchester County. The Association is committed to business advocacy, economic vitality and to providing a strong and clear voice for the interests of businesses on the regional, national and international levels. Its key objectives are: promoting positive economic development in the region; fostering business development; and providing its members with access and interaction with key public and private sector individuals, agencies and organizations.