Elected Women Endorse George Latimer for State Senate

RYE, NY — Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and State Assembly Members Amy Paulin and Shelley Mayer joined together at a press conference Friday to endorse the re-election of State Senator George Latimer.

Latimer is running for re-election to the 37th State Senate District seat, which he has held since 2012.

His opponent in the November election is Julia P. Killian, who is running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party tickets.

The 37th State Senate District includes the cities of New Rochelle, Rye, White Plains and Yonkers; and the towns of Harrison, Mamaroneck, North Castle, Rye, Bedford and Eastchester.

Gathering at Parker’s in Rye, a woman-owned business on Purchase Street, the elected officials and community members spoke of Senator Latimer’s years of support for women’s issues, according to a statement after the press conference. From protecting women’s access to health care, to improving the business climate for women-owned businesses, the speakers all lauded Latimer’s unwavering commitment.

“I’ve been friends with George Latimer for a long time," Stewart-Cousins said in the statement. "We served in the County Legislature together and accomplished great things for Westchester. We’ve accomplished great things in the State Legislature as well – and we will accomplish much more when the Democratic Conference gains the Majority in the Senate. George has championed women’s rights and causes throughout his career. He fought hard to enact a State Budget that invests $91 million into breast cancer prevention programs and provides for the nation’s most comprehensive family leave policy. He’s proud to be pro-choice and strongly supports the tenth point of the Women’s Equality Agenda, which would codify the Roe v. Wade decision into state law and safeguard women's reproductive rights. I look forward to working with him as we build a government that works for all New Yorkers.”

Mayer said, “I am extremely proud to support George Latimer for Senate. George has been a strong and consistent champion for issues that improve women's lives - including increasing the minimum wage and enacting paid family leave, fighting for equal pay for equal work, quality and affordable child care, and protecting the constitutional right to abortion stated in Roe v. Wade. On the issues that matter most to women, George is brave, outspoken and strong. We are lucky to have him as our Senator, and I am proud to support his re-election.”

Catherine Parker owns Parkers, which is celebrating its 20th year as a small business in Rye. Parker is currently a Westchester County Legislator, who represents the same district Senator Latimer represented from 1992 through 2004. Parker said, ”George is a public servant bar none. He represents all his constituents, and as a public official, I hold George up as a model for what we should expect from our elected officials. ”

“I am both honored and humbled by the wonderful support of so many great woman leaders," Latimer said in the statement. "I am deeply appreciative of the support of such dedicated people, many of whom I have had the pleasure of working with in together serving our communities.”

PHOTO/ contributed