Mt. Kisco Trustee Schleimer Announces Board of Legislators Bid
Mount Kisco Village Trustee Karen Schleimer announced her candidacy for the Westchester County Board of Legislators Wednesday afternoon in hopes of succeeding fellow Democrat Peter Harckham for the District 2 seat.
Schleimer, 66, a real estate attorney who is serving her second term on the village board, said she is determined to fight for policies to protect crucial services for women, children and seniors and to strive for more prudent county fiscal policies.
“Unfortunately most county budgets have borrowed heavily to pay for operating expenses, cut critical services, failed to find logical efficiencies that would have saved money and put future generations at risk, resulting in even higher taxes,” Schleimer said while surrounded by supporters on the steps of Mount Kisco Village Hall.
“As your county legislator I will fight for smarter fiscal policies that will make it possible for our children to live here and for our seniors to remain with their families.”
Before being elected to the village board for the first time in 2012, Schleimer had served for close to 25 years in various capacities, including as Mount Kisco’s prosecutor and as chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals. She also served on the planning board, was a member of the Master Plan and Zoning Law Revision committees and was counsel to Mount Kisco’s Architectural Review Board.
Schleimer said she had been approached to run for the seat by county Democrats after Harckham announced earlier this year that he would be retiring from the Board of Legislators after four terms. She said it was a difficult decision but she ultimately decided to enter the race because her efforts would have wider impact.
“I feel that this gives me an opportunity to affect more lives, more changes,” Schleimer said. “I think the commitment to run is huge. I think that I’m ready for the challenge to serve and I’m excited, I’m excited about what the possibilities are.”
The Board of Legislators’ current leadership joined Schleimer for the announcement as did Harckham. Chairman Michael Kaplowitz and Democratic Majority Leader Catherine Borgia praised Schleimer for her record of service in her home community.
Borgia said her commitment to issues in Mount Kisco has been extraordinary and she expects Schleimer to be able to transfer that focus to the county level.
“She has a wealth of local experience working with senior issues, doing constituent work,” Borgia said. “She really is committed in this community and all the people of this second legislative district are going to be very, very proud of their representative next January.”
Harckham pointed out how Schleimer has supported issues that reflect the Democrats’ values. While she specializes in real estate finance in her legal practice, there is a focus on advocating for women and seniors. On the village board, her votes have supported the protection of the environment and sound fiscal strategy, highlighted by the board’s recent decision to merge its police department with the county.
“She’s got an incredible work ethic, she’s got an incredible biography, she’s got an incredible resume of professional accomplishments,” Harckham said.
Schleimer said her background in real estate could also assist the county comply with the affordable housing settlement with the federal government and matters related to that issue.
It is not known who Schleimer’s challenger may be this fall. She said she has heard that Bedford Councilman Francis Corcoran has expressed interest in the Republican nomination, but the GOP has yet to formally announce its candidate.
In addition to Mount Kisco, District 2 covers the towns of Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem, Pound Ridge and part of Somers.
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/