Q&A with NY-16 Congressional Candidate George Latimer
MyRye.com is running a series of interviews with major party candidates for Congress (NY-16), State Senate (NY District 37), State Assembly (NY District 91) and City Council. All Democratic and Republican candidates have been invited to participate. The 2024 general election is on Tuesday, November 5th.
Today we are pleased to present the MyRye.com Q&A interview with NY-16 Congressional Candidate George Latimer.
MyRye: Why are you running for Congress in NY-16?
Latimer: I am running for Congress to achieve real progressive results for the residents of the 16th District on the issues that matter to them, like protecting a woman’s right to choose, defending democracy, fighting global warming, improving roads and infrastructure, and promoting the affordability of healthcare, housing, childcare and education.
Why are you running for Congress in NY-16 now?
Latimer: Now, more than ever, our nation needs elected officials committed to good government, preservation of democratic principles, and the desire to achieve results instead of the same old grandstanding and divisive rhetoric which has grounded governing to a halt, and which threatens our wellbeing, the economy, civil rights, and the rule of law.
What are the three most important ways the federal government can help the City of Rye?
Latimer:
- Supporting healthcare, housing, meals and other federal benefits for seniors, veterans and the needy
- Federal funding for roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure
- Setting high standards for a clean water, air and open space, and attacking the causes of global warming through national economic and environmental policies
Whether or not the federal government is able to help or not, what are the three biggest opportunities / challenges facing the City of Rye over the next 3-5 years?
Latimer:
- Scarcity of housing
- Increasing cost of necessities, healthcare, childcare, education, and housing
- Flood mitigation and other consequences of global warming
How much money have you raised for your campaign through August 15, 2024?
Latimer:
The total raised through the primary was $6.4 million.
Please list any organizations that have endorsed your candidacy.
Latimer: New York Daily News, AM New York, New York League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, ProChoice Voter, Moms Demand Action, PEF, CSEA Local 1000, International Union of Operating Engineers, Westchester Putnam Building Trades & Construction Council, IBEW Local 3, Laborers International Union of North America, NYC District Council of Carpenters, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, TWU Local 100, Yonkers Firefighters Local 628, 5th District of the New York State Professional Firefighters Association, FDNY-Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, New Rochelle UFFA Local 273, Mason Tenders District Council, and IATSE Local 1, Italian American Democrats, Black Democrats of Westchester, Americans4Hindus, Jewish Democratic Council of America, Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City,Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee, Mamaroneck Town Democratic Committee, Harrison Democratic Committee, Scarsdale Democratic Committee, Rye Town Democratic Committee, Eastchester Democratic Committee, Greenburgh Democratic Town Committee, White Plains Democratic Committee, Rye City Democratic Committee, Yonkers Democratic Committee, Greenburgh Democratic Committee, New Rochelle Democratic Committee
Please list any current elected officials that have endorsed your candidacy.
Latimer: (current and past) Former Secretary of State and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former New York Governor David A. Paterson, Ret. Congress Member Nita Lowey, Ret. Congress Member Eliot Engel, Ret. Congress Member Mondaire Jones, State Senator Shelley Mayer, State Assembly Member Amy Paulin, State Senator Peter Harckham, Assembly Member Chris Brudick, Assembly Member Jeff Dinowitz, Assembly Member Jenifer Rajkumar, Westchester Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, Yonkers, Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, Yonkers Council Member John Rubbo, White Plains Council President Victoria Presser, White Plains Council Member John Martin, White Plains Council Member Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, White Plains Council Member Justin Brasch, White Plains Council Member Rich Payne, Greenburgh Democratic Committee Chairman Steve Bass, Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Council Member Joy Haber, Greenburgh Town Council Member Ellen Hendrickx, Village of Irvington Trustee Mitch Bard, Village of Elmsford Trustee Matthew Evans, Village of Hastings Trustee Tom Drake, Village of Hastings Trustee Morgen Fleisig, Westchester County Legislator Nancy Barr, Westchester County Legislator Judah Holstein, Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker, Westchester County Legislator David Tubiolo, Westchester County Legislator Ben Boykin, Westchester County Legislator David Imamaura, Ret. Westchester County Legislator Alfreda Williams, Mayor Sarah Bauer, Larchmont, Mayor Luis Marino, Port Chester, Mayor Thomas Roach, White Plains, Mayor Karen Brown, Tarrytown, Supervisor Gary Zukerman, Rye Town.
Please summarize your public service experience and contributions.
Latimer: Through over three decades of public service, my work has been defined by a deep commitment to local community needs and an ability to deliver real results. From my time on the Rye City Council to the County and State Legislatures, and my current position as County Executive, I have sought to fight for the rights of all people while seeking smart, effective policies that make a real difference in people’s lives. Among the many achievements I have spearheaded or voted for are: the Westchester Human Rights Law, Westchester Solid Waste Law & Customer Bill of Rights, Westchester Gun Safety Law, Westchester Smoke-Free Workplace Law, the NY SAFE Act, the NY Marriage Equality Act, the Westchester Reproductive Healthcare Facilities Act, five consecutive years of no county property-tax increases, banning gun shows at the County Center and banning “gay conversion therapy”, electrifying the Bee-Line bus fleet and county motor pool, restoring the Miller House and the North & South County Trails, welcoming athletes at county facilities regardless of gender identity, facilitating over 6,000 units of affordable housing built, under construction, or in the planning stages, free door locks and video doorbells for domestic violence victims, funding for major state, county and local infrastructure projects, free summer rides on the Bee-Line, programs for police to de-escalate violent incidents, a new county office for veterans, free COVID testing, plastic shields and HEPA filters for schools and public employees, funding for black maternal healthcare and other public health initiatives, and MUCH MORE.
Tell us about you.
Latimer: I grew up in Mount Vernon, attended Mount Vernon public schools and then earned a B.A. from Fordham University and a Master’s in Public Administration from NYU. My wife Robin and I live in the City of Rye and have one daughter. In the private sector, I worked as a marketing executive, serving for more than 20 years at major corporate subsidiaries of Nestle, and ITT, and with on-site responsibilities for projects with AT&T, IBM and Shearson Lehman. During that time, I gained first-hand business and economic experience, having direct involvement with project development at numerous sites nationwide. In tandem with my profession, I maintained a passion for public service first as a tenant organizer, and which I have been able to successfully fulfill as an elected official on the local, state and county levels.
What is your day job?
Latimer: Before serving my community as an elected official, I worked as an marketing executive in the hospitality industry for 20 years. Currently, I am the Westchester County Executive.
What is your favorite streaming / TV series ever?
Latimer: Mad Men
What is your favorite movie?
Latimer: Casablanca
Where do you live in the District and how many years have you lived there?
Latimer: I’ve lived in Rye (close to Playland) for over 30 years. Before that, I was a resident of Mt. Vernon where I was born and raised.
Thanks, George!
Learn more:
George Latimer Campaign Website
