Candidate Profile: Chris Burdick For State Assembly

HUDSON VALLEY, NY - New Yorkers will be hitting the polls on June 23 for the primary election to choose which representatives will be on the ballot for the general election in November.

Among the local races, some residents of the Hudson Valley will be able to elect who will be on the Democratic line in November for State Assembly in District 93.

The district contains all of Interstate 684 in Westchester County and includes Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and White Plains. The current officeholder, David Buchwald, is running for Congress in District 17.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Chris Burdick is seeking the Democratic line on the ballot in November. His opponents in the June 23 primary are Kristen Browde, Jeremiah Frei-Pearson, Mark Jaffe and Alexander Roithmayr.

Burdick, 69, has local government experience: he was first elected to the Bedford Town Board in 2007 and 2011, and has been the Town Supervisor since 2013.

He earned his B.A. in Economics and History from the University of California at Berkeley; Master’s in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; and Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall Law School

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Chris Burdick:

Why are you seeking elective office?

NYS currently has the most progressive state legislature in its history, and over the last year-and-a-half has achieved so much. However, there is still much more we can do on issues such as the environment, infrastructure and educational funding, health care, gun violence, and women’s rights. And now we are in the middle of a pandemic, an economic crisis, and our country is at a breaking point over racial injustice and systemic racism. Under my leadership, Bedford has made great strides in cutting carbon emissions, infrastructure development and affordable housing. I want to take my experience and record of accomplishment in Bedford and bring it to Albany to fight for the 93rd Assembly District.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Recovering from the pandemic. The world has changed drastically since I first decided to run. While the climate crisis is still of utmost importance, our first priority has to be making sure our district has the funds it needs to recover from this global health crisis. I believe we can help our environment and our economy by bringing good green jobs to the district. I’ll also fight to get the funding we need for our educational system and for equal access to healthcare.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’m the only elected official in this race, and that experience will be crucial, particularly in a time of crisis. I have worked with every level of government to successfully meet challenges head on, and I will bring that experience with me to Albany. This experience is why so many of the district’s elected officials have endorsed me - they know my experience will allow me to hit the ground running on Day One, already understanding the needs of the district’s municipalities and how the decisions made in Albany will affect them.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

In addition to the pressing needs for economic recovery, climate action and expanded access to health care and affordable housing, I am committed to preserving education funding, building on New York State’s criminal justice reform, and vigorously defending the rights of women, the LGBTQ community, the elderly, minorities, immigrants and the disabled.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As Bedford Town Supervisor, I am currently working around the clock to lead my town through the pandemic. I have been in constant communication with my residents, and – in conjunction with Mount Kisco Mayor Gina Picinich – have set up the only drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Northern Westchester. Under my leadership, Bedford has cut carbon emissions by 44% town-wide, broken ground on a sewer project crucial for environmental safety and economic development, built affordable housing on a timeline no one thought possible, and passed one of the strongest immigrant protection plans in the county. I will bring this experience and record of accomplishment to Albany.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Marry Illyria.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am known in my community as a tireless worker who acts promptly on constituent concerns, and builds effective coalitions to face challenges head on. As a strong progressive, I want to seize this moment to build economic, environmental and social justice for all in our community. And I promise, no one will work harder.

Campaign website: www.Burdickforassembly.com