Galef Announces Retirement; Rainey Seeks To Replace Her In Albany

PEEKSKILL, NY — Longtime Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, D-Ossining, announced Monday she will not be running for another term.

Galef, whose 95th District is comprised of Peekskill, Cortlandt, Ossining and parts of Putnam County, said she intends to retire from public office at the end of 2022.

"Serving in the NYS Assembly since 1993 has been a true honor bestowed upon me by the voters in northern Westchester County and in Putnam County," she posted on Facebook.

"I have loved every moment of being an elected official and cared so deeply for my constituents," Galef said. "Making government accessible and making it work for the public was always my goal."

Galef, 82, has lived in Westchester County since 1944. She was born in Wisconsin and after moving to Westchester, she attended schools in Mamaroneck and White Plains.

She graduated from White Plains High School and then Purdue University. She earned a master's degree in education at the University of Virginia.

Galef served as a Westchester County legislator for 13 years before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992.

"I haven't been too caught up in politics," she told Patch. "For me it's been more about issues and helping people."

Also on Monday, former Peekskill Mayor Andre Rainey announced he will run to replace Galef as assemblyman for the 95th District.

Rainey said that Galef was an institution and that there isn't anyone who has not benefitted from the work she has done.

"As we move forward, we need to ensure this district has a representative in Albany with a proven track record of delivering for the people they represent," he said in a prepared statement, "fighting for our youth and ensuring our public schools are appropriately funded for the long-term; ensuring residents can afford to continue living here by investing in affordable housing for working families and our seniors, keeping property taxes low for homeowners and ensuring we have strong rent regulations that protect tenants."

Rainey was elected to the Peekskill City Council in 2015 — at the time the youngest person elected to city hall. Two years later, he ran for mayor and went on to win re-election two years later.

He has consistently been named to City & State Magazine's Power 100 in Westchester and is part of a new class of African American leadership that has emerged in the Democratic party in the region, according to a spokesperson.

Rainey will launch an official kick-off to his campaign in the coming weeks.