Peter Harckham - No-show

State Senate District 40 is mostly in Putnam and Westchester Counties. There are only two towns in Dutchess that are part of this Senate District—Beekman and Pawling.

Terrence Murphy has been State Senator in 40 for two terms. He is up for re-election in November. He desperately needs to be replaced. Why? Murphy opposes everything I stand for: women’s reproductive rights, gun safety including the Safe Act, sanctuary cities, the Dream Act, and quality education for all students by favoring tax credits for private schools. Yuk…

Enters Democrat Robert Kesten about a year ago to unseat Murphy. Raised in Bedford and currently living in South Salem, Kesten is a Lewisboro Democratic district leader and an active member of the Lewisboro Democratic Committee. The first time I heard Robert speak, he opened by saying that he entered the race for his son who suffers from schizophrenia. He spoke candidly about wanting to go against Murphy on all fronts, especially his siphoning money from public education to schools without many of the state education mandates. (i.e., for physically, mentally, and emotionally challenged students). Kesten sounded educated, informed, and passionate. He had my vote.

Fast forward to about a month ago. Democrat and former Westchester County legislator Peter Harckham enters the Senate 40 race, having been asked by Governor Cuomo to do so. What’s this about? Regardless, nominations in the three counties in 40 would be good.

Last Thursday, May 31, in Poughkeepsie the Dutchess County Democratic Committee held a meeting which included a Nominating Convention. After Kesten’s nomination, the question of other nominations was posed—once, twice, three times. No more candidates stepped forward. Peter Harckham hadn’t even bothered to show up for his Beekman and Pawling constituents!

I feel so dismissed. I guess Peter Harckham doesn’t care about my concerns and doesn’t need my vote. Is that because he has the governor’s endorsement? This looks fishy to me…

Barbara Walsh

Beekman