Majority Leader Borgia Seeks to Fend Off Challenge of Croton Resident
The financial health of Westchester County is a top priority for Catherine Borgia, majority leader of the county Board of Legislators, and her opponent in the November 3 election, Kate Mamone of Croton-on-Hudson.
Borgia, a Democrat and resident of Ossining, is running for a third two-year term serving District 9, which encompasses Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Croton and parts of Cortlandt and Peekskill. Prior to joining the board she served two years as town supervisor in Ossining.
“My motivation to run for office has always been to serve our communities and to find ways to improve residents’ quality of life,” Borgia said. “My desire to problem-solve and serve Westchester County is even greater, now that the county is in such bad fiscal shape due to poor budgeting practices, such as borrowing to cover operating expenses and relying on one-shot revenue sources. We’re reached a crisis point as the county budget faces a shortfall in the 2015 budget and an anticipated gap of over $50 million for the 2016 budget.”
Mamone is a lifelong Croton resident and a business owner who previously worked for the county and state legal departments, as well as private practices.
“I am running on a platform of fiscal responsibility and will work to prevent tax increases, protect our local zoning rights, promote economic growth and protect our environment,” Mamone said. “I am very concerned about HUD wanting to dismantle our zoning laws and eliminate Home Rule Law. We’ve also had five years of no tax increase at the County level and also our county government must be brought to a reasonable level.”
Borgia, who downplayed speculation that she may be interested in seeking the county executive position in the future, said legislators will have to make some tough decisions in the next few weeks to deal with the county’s fiscal realities.
“Since the first day I started as a county legislator, I’ve believed that our county government can do more for Westchester taxpayers by working smarter, encouraging economic growth, collaborating with local governments and school districts to make the most out of tax dollars, while protecting our environment and the vital services our families need,” Borgia said. “This reelection is about making sure that Westchester’s working families, single parents, veterans, seniors, and young people understand what we are up against and are all advocated for.”
Mamone, who is running on the Republican, Conservative and Reform Party lines, is hopeful of getting an opportunity to be a public servant for the first time.
“It would be an honor and privilege to serve the residents of District 9 in the County Legislature.,” she said. “I am not a career politician and am not beholden to any political party and if elected the people will be my boss.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
