Meet The Candidate: Farley For Congressional District 18

TUXEDO, NY — The races for which voters will cast ballots in the general election in November have been set. One of the contested races is for the 18th Congressional District. Patch asked the candidates in the race to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day nears.

Chele Farley, 53, a Republican, is running to represent the 18th Congressional District. Her opponents are incumbent Democrat Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney and Libertarian candidate Scott Smith.

Farley, who lives in the town of Tuxedo, has worked in financial services for about 25 years. She has a bachelor's and master's degree in engineering from Stanford University. Farley is married and has three sons.

The 18th Congressional District consists of Orange and Putnam counties and parts of Westchester and Dutchess counties.

Why are you seeking elective office?

The unrest and turmoil racing across our communities is being fueled by the hyper-partisan fighting and gridlock in Congress. The person we sent there has lost his way and sides with the out of touch Capitol Hill political elite.

I’m an Engineer. I know how to fix things. I got into this race to fix the problems and put our country back on a stronger more prosperous course.

I’m not interested in scoring political points. I’m ready to get things done for the Hudson Valley.

The single most pressing issue facing our community, and what I intend to do about it.

One of the greatest threats to our country and our local communities is the Defund the Police movement and the trend toward pro-criminal policies. I plan to be an advocate for law enforcement and a proponent of public safety, starting first and foremost with bringing back bail.

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

I’m not a career politician. I’m an engineer, a businesswoman and a mother. I know how to fix things, have the skills to negotiate and ultimately want a better community for my children. No part of my platform is centered around building a political future for myself. Instead, I’m focused on practical policies that can actually get things done, which is why my website is CongressGetSomethingDone.com.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Sean Maloney first campaigned as a moderate, but has moved so far to the left he is almost unrecognizable to the district who elected him eight years ago. He has voted with Speaker Pelosi 100 percent of the time, co-sponsored AOC’s Green New Deal and called ending cash bail a “top priority.”

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am committed to bringing more of New York’s federal tax dollars back to the state for projects that will help us by investing in our infrastructure, improving our environment and lowering taxes here at home.

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

My training as an engineer has given me the problem-solving skills to fix New York and make Congress work better for us. In my decades of experience working in international finance I made projects happen that created thousands of jobs — all by getting things done at the negotiating table.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

“Do it now.” - Clement Stone
This was the quote I chose for my high school yearbook.

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

Because of candidates like my opponent Sean Maloney who get elected to office and do very little for the people they represent, I am a huge proponent of term limits and have signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge. Members of Congress should be less focused on pleasing party leadership to get re-elected and more focused on actually delivering for their constituents.

Are you running for office? Contact Michael Woyton for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.