Harckham Makes Re-election Bid Official in Mt. Kisco
Three-term County Legislator Peter Harckham (D-Katonah) announced this week he is running for re-election in District 2 this fall.
Harckham, 53, the Board of Legislators’ Democratic majority leader for the past three-and-a-half years, addressed family, friends and supporters on Tuesday in Mount Kisco by reaffirming his priorities to continue to help families and the environment if he’s victorious in November.
He pointed to his role in reducing taxes by 2.2 percent over the past six years, slashing spending by $100 million and cutting the size of the county workforce by 15 percent during his time in office. Harckham also said he has been a leading advocate of solar energy and was able to capture $20 million in outside funding for the district to protect drinking water supplies.
“I’m proud of our accomplishments together, I’m proud of my record and I’m proud of our values, and in my next term I’ll continue to put Westchester families first,” Harckham said.
Harckham is running against Lewisboro Republican Chairwoman Andrea Rendo, an attorney with a practice in Mount Kisco. Without mentioning Rendo by name, Harckham criticized her support of County Executive Rob Astorino’s fiscal policies, which has resulted in significant cutbacks for facilities such as Open Door Family Medical Centers and the Westchester Library System along with large increases for family contributions toward child care.
Astorino’s policies, in particular his long-held opposition to the source of income legislation as part of the housing settlement, has jeopardized millions of dollars in federal Community Development Block Grant money that has delayed funding for local shelters and other programs, he said. Legislators passed a source of income legislation Monday night.
“My friends, we can do better,” Harckham said. “This is Westchester. All of the people of Westchester deserve so much better.”
Harckham said he knows Rendo from his travels within the district and called her “a delightful person” but that they have fundamental differences. He vowed to maintain an issues oriented campaign, something he’s done in his two other contested elections for the seat against Peter Michaelis.
Mount Kisco Village Trustee Jean Farber, one of the elected officials to attend Harckham’s announcement on the steps of Village Hall, said the legislator is one of the hardest working and involved officials around and genuinely cares about people.
“I think one of his most amazing traits (is) he’s really hands on,” Farber said. “Whenever you turn around Peter’s there. He really listens to what people have to say.”
District 2 includes the municipalities of Mount Kisco, Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem, Pound Ridge and a portion of Somers in the northeastern corner of the county.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
