Meet The Candidate: Bhandarkar For Assembly District 99

CORNWALL, 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 state Assembly District 99. Patch asked the candidates in the race to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day nears.

Sarita Bhandarkar, 44, a Democrat, is running to represent the 99th state Assembly District. Her opponent is Republican incumbent Assemblyman Colin Schmitt.

Bhandarkar, who lives in Cornwall, is an attorney. She earned an LL.M taxation degree from New York Law School and a doctor of jurisprudence from the College of William & Mary School of Law.

State Assembly District 99 is comprised of Stony Point in Rockland County and part of Orange County.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I grew up in Orange County where I am presently running for office and where I have my law practice. As an elder law attorney, I am very concerned about how expensive the region has become, particularly for retirees and those on fixed income. As a resident, I am concerned about short-term thinking regarding development projects, which do not bring living wage jobs to the region and which are not in the best interests of our environment. I know we can do better. I am running for office to focus on reducing property taxes (especially school taxes), to make health care more affordable for all, and to help support small business owners.

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

Relying on property taxes as a substantial source of school funding is a major issue. I intend to work with those in my party as well as those across the aisle to shift away from this antiquated model of school funding. I also believe it is vital that we embrace the principles set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and move forward with green energy projects now. These projects will create good jobs for our community. We must be forward thinking and recognize that climate change is real and that we have a responsibility to the next generation to actively engage in finding solutions that protect our environment and leave a better world for our children.

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

Unlike my opponent, I will be able to effectively work with the majority in the Assembly to deliver for my District. Unlike my opponent, I do not lie. I will never vote against bills in Albany and then promote myself in the District as having supported the very legislation I voted against. The property tax cap is a perfect example of this. My opponent voted against it, then sent out mailers to his constituents lauding the tax cap as though he was responsible for its success. I will always support women's reproductive rights unlike my opponent who voted against state legislation codifying Roe v. Wade. Now, more than ever, it is vital to ensure that a woman's right to choose is protected at the state level. I will support reasonable gun safety measures. I will not take corporate PAC money and then promote corporate interests rather than the interests of my constituents. I will bring environmental legislation opposing CPV to the floor for a vote. I will not support the Danskammer power plant. I will vote in favor of legislation that protects voters and makes it easier for them to vote rather than voting against all voting bills, including those intended to protect our voters health and safety in the middle of a pandemic. I will support fully funding our schools while shifting away from a property tax model of school funding. And I will not lie. I am repeating that one — intentionally and for emphasis: I will not lie.

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

He is one of the least effective members of the Assembly. His voting record is extremely conservative and out of step with the majority of his constituents. He is not capable of working across the aisle. While he says at times that he works in a bipartisan fashion, that just means he voted for legislation which would have passed overwhelmingly with or without his vote. He blocks constituents who disagree with him from his social media pages so that they do not have the ability to raise grievances in a public forum. Neither he nor his office return calls from constituents who call to complain about his behavior. These actions are not those of a public servant who is seeking to serve his community and put their needs above his own.

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

I built my law practice over 12 years working in this district. I did this with focus and determination, building trust with clients who would then refer their own friends and family to me. My clients come from all walks of life. We do not necessarily share a common history (my parents are immigrants from two different countries) or a common set of beliefs (my politics and personal views often vary from those of my clients); but we are able to work together and build trust, rapport and often friendship in large part because we recognize in ourselves and in one another that we are almost always more alike than we are different.

Building trust is dependent upon communication skills and knowing that both parties value and will keep their word. The practice of law is also dependent upon analytical skills, rational thinking and the ability to stay calm under pressure. These skills will also be necessary and valuable in representing my constituents once elected to the Assembly.

In addition to being an attorney, I currently serve on the Zoning Board in the Village of Cornwall on Hudson. In the past, I have served on the boards of the Hudson Valley Estate Planning Council and Leadership Orange, including in the role of president to each organization. I have also served on the board of Arc of Orange County, on the Community Foundation's Professional Advisors Council, on Habitat for Humanity's Family Selection Committee, as a volunteer mediator with the Dispute Resolution Center, and as a coach for Girls on the Run Hudson Valley. Through my extensive volunteer service to my community, I am better able to understand and appreciate the needs and concerns of those in my District and to share with them a sense of community and common purpose.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

My dad: "No one takes an unknown boxer seriously until he wins his first round. They brush him off and ignore him. 'Eh, who is this guy? What does he know?'

"Once he wins the first round, something happens; the crowd gets interested. 'Wait a minute. Who is this guy? Hmm. What is going to happen next?' Once he wins his second round, they start to turn, start cheering him on. They are in the game now, rooting for him to win. It is exciting, and they want to be a part of it. But the first round — Sarita, the first round, you have got to win the first round on your own. And you will."

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