NYS Senate District 35 Democrat Primary 2018 – Challenger, Virginia Perez
Candidate: Virginia Perez
Challenger, Westchester County Legislator, District 17
Resume: Virginia Perez was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States with her family as a young girl. She attended Yonkers public schools and graduated from Saunders Trade and Technical High School. Wanting to stay close to her family she decided to attend Monroe Community College where she acquired degrees in Hospitality and Business Management. During college she was awarded an internship at the Plaza Hotel where she was hired upon graduating.
In late 2007 when Hurricane Noel ravaged the Dominican Republic, Virginia mobilized the Southwest Yonkers community. Using her parent’s living room as headquarters she collected 10 large cargo containers of food, water, clothing, shoes, medicine, toys and more. She followed through with shipping them and saw that they were distributed successfully to families in dire need on the island.
When her brother was murdered she first sought to organize a neighborhood watch program entitled Help put Yonkers on the MAP (Martin Antonio Perez). She began to lobby the State Senate to pass legislation she named Martin’s Law. It requires landlords, property owners and management companies to take more responsibility for the safety of their tenants and the general public. Frustrated with the slow pace of the political process, she decided she needed to run for office herself.
Perez took office as the County Legislator for District 17 on January 1, 2012.
In a recent interview with The White Plains Examiner, Perez said she decided to force a Democratic primary with Senator Stewart-Cousins for the Senate District 35 seat because she is not afraid to take on the establishment. “My opponent is not serving the district well,” Perez said. And as for the Democratic Party, she feels they protect those already seated rather than holding them accountable. Perez says a vote for her is a vote for change.
Property taxes to support public education and a declining quality of life are the first issues that come to mind when Perez is asked about legislative priorities at the state level.
“We have to rework the education tax formula to get tax relief,” Perez said. “I would propose new legislation to get the schools properly funded. Our students do not have the tools they need. People are moving out of their homes because they cannot afford the property taxes. Even renters are faced with higher rents because of property tax increases. People cannot make ends meet.”
Perez believes it is possible to come up with creative solutions to everyday problems, including mandate relief, by thinking outside the box – something she says she has done at the County level, especially by reaching across the aisle to work with her Republican colleagues in the Legislature. “By working together we can come up with solutions,” Perez said.
As an immigrant, Perez recognizes the negative aspects of people “living in fear.” She recognizes immigrants to the United States as hardworking people, many working several jobs to make ends meet. She is frustrated that the Immigrant Farmworkers bill is just sitting in the State Legislature.
Perez also supports Green Light Driving New York that would enable equal access to NYS driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status.
Most immigrant workers with more than one job cannot depend on public transportation to get them from job to job, Perez claims. And, they are driving anyway without licenses and most likely also without insurance. “It’s a risk,” she said. “When they get pulled over, they are arrested and deported. We need a solution.”
Perez proposes charging a temporary fee for the early privilege of driving a vehicle for everyone, with documents or not. She then would take that revenue and apply it to another formula, such as towards funding schools, for example.
Perez said she is fighting for change. “It is time for the next generation to take the lead. The incumbents have been in power for too long.”
Perez is most passionate about tougher and longer sentences for violent criminals. The death of her brother, Martin Antonio Perez, the victim of a violent crime, is what she says propelled her into public office. She learned quickly that without strong enforceable laws to deter gang violence the most vigilant citizens were virtually powerless against crime. Frustrated with the slow pace of the political process, she decided she needed to run for office herself to give testimony to the devastating effect of senseless violent crime on a family and a community.
Perez said she is frustrated with the rate of recidivism of criminals going back into the corrections system for new offenses after serving time for other crimes. “It’s a revolving door,” she said. “We need tougher sentences and no more plea deals.”
Perez also asks what is being done about illegal gun ownership. All the talk is about legal gun ownership, “but what about all the illegal guns out there?”
Reflecting back on the recent death of Senator John McCain, Perez asked, “What is the good of bipartisanship if it’s only good when you’re dead? There is nothing wrong with compromise. We live in a Democracy with a legal two-party system. I am tired of the ‘my way or the highway’ attitude of the political party system.”
On that note, Perez is known for working across the aisle with her Republican counterparts at the County Legislature. She says she also believes in working together at all levels of government.
Perez is intent to do the work at the state level to protect her constituents at the local level. “It’s time for progress and a strong advocate,” she said.
In the County Legislature, Perez has worked to support Public Safety, lowering the cost of government by supporting “no county tax increase,” and working to protect the environment.
As a State Senator Perez wants to secure the District’s fair share of state school funding; protect young people from the dangers of drugs and gun violence; help small businesses prosper and create jobs; fight for senior citizens; and work to reduce high property taxes and other high costs of living.
