Win Or Lose, These Candidates Will Change How Campaigns Are Run

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Partisan political positions won't earn candidates one particularly elusive endorsement, but Democrats, Republicans and Independents who earn the seal of approval are changing the very nature of campaigning.

While some candidates in this local election cycle have tried their best to recreate the populist groundswell of political support manufactured by former President Donald Trump by touting debunked illegal immigration conspiracy theories and, in some cases, ginning up disingenuous fears about inclusivity lessons in school curriculums, there is also another referendum of sorts hidden in the jejune elections for municipal offices on Tuesday — the very nature of how political races are financed.

It's hard to believe, but Donald Trump, vaccine mandates, controversy over critical race theory and reuniting separated families at the Westchester County Airport will not be on the ballot on Tuesday. The integrity of the election process is also not up for vote, but Election Day in the Hudson Valley might very well go a long way toward deciding the future of each of these hot button issues.

Ruth Walter, who is running for re-election to the Westchester County Legislature for District 15, earned the endorsement of a fledgling campaign reform group known as the Trailblazers by actively disclosing all of her campaign finances. The pledge goes beyond what New York State election law requires.

Walter also achieved the goal of raising donations from a significantly higher proportion of family homes in her district than normally solicited in a typical campaign. District 15 includes portions of Yonkers and Bronxville. With roughly 56,000 residents in each of Westchester's large legislative districts, it is considered unusual for a candidate to earn donations from so many in-district donors, rather than seeking funds from outside groups

Meeting these higher standards earned Walter the endorsement of Trailblazers PAC. The national, nonpartisan organization supports candidates, both Democrat and Republican, for county or municipal level office who take specific actions for the cause that the group touts as "honest government."

"The Trailblazers endorsement highlights my goal to be transparent and connected to my district. Voters should always know who is donating to a candidate," Walter said in a statement accepting the group's endorsement. "I’ve been consistent in my full disclosure and this helps me be responsive to people living in District 15."

Trailblazers focuses exclusively on candidates running for office at the local, rather than state or federal level. The organization works with candidates of any political party and will even endorse on both sides of a race if each candidate achieves the criteria.

"Ruth Walter listens to her constituents and works tirelessly on their behalf," said Tony Pucci, Trailblazers Executive Board member and the organization’s mentor to Walter. "She is fully transparent regarding all of her financial disclosures and puts the interests of the people first."

Earning a Trailblazer endorsement doesn't come easy.

The group places candidates who apply into an intensive mentorship and training program. There have been nearly 250 candidates across the country in mentorship over the past five years; about a quarter of those have achieved endorsement.

That hard work toward a more transparent campaign, more often than not strikes a chord with voters. The organization only endorses and donates to candidates running in contested elections, and since 2017, over 65 percent of those candidates went on to win their elections.

In the Hudson Valley, Bedford Town Supervisor candidate Ellen Calves, Rye City Council candidate Lisa Tannenbaum, Bedford Town Justice candidate Jodi Kimmel and Dutchess County Legislator District 5 candidate Pam Kingsley also put in the hard work to earn the group's endorsement.

"With their non-partisan approach and focus on community engagement, Trailblazers PAC is making a real difference in local government," Tannenbaum said. "I'm thrilled to have their endorsement, which recognizes my focus on voter outreach and bringing collaboration and cooperation to Rye City government."

Although Walter, Calves, Tannenbaum, Kimmel and Kingsley are Democrats, a Trailblazer endorsement has something of a Midas touch for Republicans who earn the group's seal of approval as well. The Trailblazer PAC touts a number of conservative candidates among its victors.

In the final days of an election, it is almost a given that campaigns will turn negative just before voters head to the polls. In this case, it's not hard to focus on the positives — no matter one's political leanings.