2019 Candidate Profile: Michael J. Grace For County Legislator

YORKTOWN, NY — Westchester County will have several contested races in this fall's election, including the race for County Legislator for District 4. Yorktown-Somers Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Republican Michael J. Grace, 63, is running to represent Westchester County District 4. His opponent is Democrat Vedat Gashi.

Grace is running on the Republican and Conservative party lines. He is an attorney, who has served as the Yorktown town attorney and the town supervisor.

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

The affordability of living in Westchester County. Westchester County is becoming increasingly less affordable across most income levels. The local real estate tax burden devalues home prices and unduly burdens small businesses who pay a pro rata share under most commercial lease terms. The recent sales tax hike of 14 percent is a regressive tax hurting those who can least afford it. The future viability of Westchester Count requires fiscal discipline. As town supervisor I found ways to hold the line on taxes for six years while significantly increasing the town's fund balance and reducing the town's long tern debt by over a third. We scrutinized all spending, rewrote public service contracts and looked to public/private partnerships to hold down the costs of governmental operations and enhance governmental services. We encouraged redevelopment of the existing commercial tax base by intelligent legislative initiatives to preserve the character and environment of Yorktown while increasing tax revenues and decreasing governmental costs. The same approach which proved so successful on the town level can be employed on a county wide level.

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

The major difference between me and my opponent is that I have over 19 years of experience in local government which includes working with the county, state and federal governmental agencies. I have a proven track record of accomplishments. These accomplishments include having navigated the Town of Yorktown to fiscal prosperity while most municipalities were under years of fiscal distress and completing major infrastructure projects such as the new Granite Knolls Sports complex. I have a proven record of results and will hit the ground running. I will bring a voice to the county Board that hopefully will be a check and balance against the march to the progressive left. My opponent portends to be yet another voice in a choir of left leaning Democrats that are on a trajectory that I believe will severely negatively impact the future livability of Westchester County.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The major issues to be addressed on a county wide basis are first taxes and then the environment. There are certain public infrastructure needs that are best addresses at the county level. These include waste water infrastructure and storm water management, both of which have significant environmental impacts if mismanaged or under-funded. As town supervisor for Yorktown we have had to deal with both issues extensively. The county due to scale can bring affordable solutions to both issues which cannot be achieved on a town wide basis. Why is this important? Because it impacts both the physical environment and investment opportunities in the County necessary for healthy long tern growth. Often these environmental issues and their pragmatic solutions get lost in political rhetoric and hyperbole. It is critical that we have forthright discussions on these issues and vigorous debate.

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

I believe that my 19 plus years of local governmental experience makes me uniquely qualified to do the job as county legislator. As town attorney and town supervisor I have dealt with a myriad of issues that I will be faced with resolving as county legislator. My record of accomplishments as town supervisor is proof of my ability to bring real, pragmatic and practical solutions in my role as county legislator.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Be truthful.

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

I am a father of four children and grandfather of three. I have a very diverse family. My mother was a Jewish refugee from the Nazis, my father a ghost writer for the NY Archdiocese and my children are all of Latino decent. The reason I bring this up is because unfortunately we presently function in a political and social environment where we judge each other by what we believe is their physical or ethnic identity. I find this to be myopic and unjust. All of us borrow from diverse cultures and heritages yet we are all unique. We must look beyond identity politics and political labeling. Seek truth and be truthful!