Editor's Note: The below letter does not necessarily represent the views of Patch media.
I met Bob Cohen, State Senate candidate, a few times during his campaign and greatly appreciate that he is a refreshing change from the usual candidates. All too often, we have to choose between status quo politicians, but this is not the case with Bob. Conversely, Bob’s opponent has been in office for 25 years-my entire life-even though this career politician once favored term limits. This impresses me. I want someone to represent me who has had a real job.
Bob Cohen is exactly what we need in the State Senate. He has spent his career in the private sector; truly understands the challenges facing our businesses and families; and wants to take his wisdom to Albany to push for bold change and reform. It is clear that Bob genuinely will fight to save New York State. He realizes how high taxes are driving people, especially my generation, out of New York. I've grown up in Westchester; every day I hear people say that the cost of living is too high and they may have to leave. The cause: New York has the highest taxes in country. Thankfully, Bob is ready to fight for tax relief and spending reductions.
It may be hard for Bob Cohen to fight the status quo in Albany, but on Election Day I will certainly be casting my vote for Bob and give him a chance to save my home and state.
Ashley Ward
New Rochelle
As far as term limits, so you expect Latimer to self-impose term limits on himself, without the same rule applying to everyone else? Ashley, thank you for taking the time to think about these issues. You're right that we have many challenges in the state, but I urge you to dig further than the slogans and one-liners that are standing in the way of real dialogue. I urge you to look again at George Latimer, he's an honest, diligent, smart and well-informed politician, a rare creature these days. He deserves our support.
As far as Cohen fighting the status quo: this year he has already taken well over a million and a half dollars in assistance from the State Republican Senate Committee, the same Republicans who have controlled the State Senate for 70 of the past 73 years. By the end of the campaign, this figure will be well over $2 million. This doesn't sound like someone getting ready to fight the status quo.
Moreover, whereas George's campaign has been funded by local contributors (such as yours truly) Bob's campaign is being heavily funded by the State Republican Party, in an effort to eliminate one of the most honest, hardest working, smartest, absolutely best members of the NYS Leglislature there is, George Latimer, from office. As a person who has been active in community activities in our area for four decades I can state, from my own experience (not because I met him once), that George is always there when you need him, but now he needs us. Cohen's incessant mailers, newspaper ads (two this week in one weekly alone) and even TV ads are merely a Republican effort to strip our area of representation by the guy we really need, in fact the type of guy our entire state needs. Only we can stop that from happening. We need George Latimer in our State Legislature, but we do not need Bob Cohen there. I urge you to vote for George on Election Day.