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Lower Hudson Valley: Rockland
County Executive - Ellen Jaffee (D, WFP - Challenger) Ms. Jaffee has been a Rockland County Legislator since 1998. In that role, she worked closely with local LGBT organizations to pass a law giving domestic partner health benefits to county employees. Ms. Jaffee is currently working to establish a domestic partner registry for Rockland County. She answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, though she did not answer yes or no on the marriage question. Instead, she said, "I support the right of two people who love each other to have the legal right to choose the form of commitment they wish to make. I support legislation for an expanded definition of family, key to improving access to legal and economic resources to all families." Ms. Jaffee has a proven record supporting our community as an elected official. The Empire State Pride Agenda is pleased to endorse Ellen Jaffee's candidacy for Rockland County Executive. Ms. Jaffee is challenging incumbent Republican C. Scott Vanderhoef, and also faces Family Values candidate Richard Stolbach, neither of whom returned a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Westchester
County Executive - Andy J. Spano (D, WFP, I - Incumbent) Mr. Spano has been an active supporter of the LGBT community in Westchester County. He was a champion of the Westchester Human Rights law which included sexual orientation. He signed legislation creating a domestic partner registry and giving county employees domestic partner benefits. He helped create the Westchester Human Rights Commission, and directed that LGBT issues be added to the curriculum for the Westchester County Police Academy. He appointed an LGBT liaison and LGBT Advisory Board, and secured funding for local LGBT groups and programs like The Loft and WJCS/Center Lane. During his tenure as County Executive, Westchester County also produced an LGBT community website and a public service video on LGBT teens. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly except he did not respond to the marriage question, the contracting bill question, or the Boy Scouts funding question. Instead, he stated his support for civil unions and domestic partnerships, said he would be open to exploring legislation similar to the NYC Equal Benefits Bill, and noted that when NY Medical College decided to ban a gay group on its campus, he directed the County to not participate in any future projects with the college until the group was reinstated. Mr. Spano has a proven record supporting our community as an elected official. The Empire State Pride Agenda is pleased to endorse Andy Spano's re-election as Westchester County Executive. Mr. Spano is facing Republican Robert Astrino, who did not return a questionnaire to the Pride Agenda seeking our endorsement. Westchester
County Legislature, 16th District - Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D, WFP
- Incumbent) Ms. Stewart-Cousins supported the county's Human Rights law that banned discrimination based upon sexual orientation and a law that created the county-wide domestic partner registry and gave domestic partner benefits to county employees. She has also held town meetings focusing on LGBT issues. She answered every question on our questionnaire correctly with the exception of the question on marriage for same-sex couples. Instead, she said, "I support civil unions and domestic partner legislation." Ms. Stewart-Cousins is a champion of LGBT issues and has a proven record supporting our community. The Empire State Pride Agenda is pleased to endorse Andrea Stewart-Cousins' re-election to the 16th District of the Westchester County Legislature. Ms. Stewart-Cousins is being challenged by Republican/Independent/Conservative candidate Cicely P. Greaves-Vega, who did not return a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Westchester
County Legislature, 17th District - Phil Gille (R, C, I - Challenger)
Mr. Gille is a gay man, a member of the Log Cabin Republicans of the Hudson Valley, and Senior Legal Advisor to the Yonkers City Council. While serving in the administration of former County Executive Andrew O'Rourke, Mr. Gille worked to begin funding of The Loft. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding, "Though hardly a radical, I have never shied away from public identification as a gay man or as a supporter of issues of importance to our community.… It is essential for the advancement of our rights that openly gay Republican candidates be elected to office." The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse Phil Gille's candidacy for Westchester County Legislature, 17th District. Mr. Gille is challenging incumbent Democrat Jon Alvarado, and also facing WFP candidate Jason Butler, neither of whom submitted a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Village of
Ossining Trustee - William R. Hanauer (D, WFP - Incumbent) Mr. Hanauer is an openly gay public official in Westchester County, who was appointed in March and is now running in a special off-year election. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly. The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse William Hanauer's candidacy for Village of Ossining Trustee. Also in the race for Village Trustee are Republicans John Perillo and Tony Paresi, neither of whom submitted a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda's endorsement. Peekskill
City Council, At Large - William K. Schmidt (R, C, I - Incumbent)
Mr. Schmidt, the first openly gay elected official in Westchester County, has served on the Peekskill City Council since 1998. He sponsored the successful effort to add protections based upon sexual orientation to Peekskill's human rights law. He is currently working on providing domestic partner benefits to city employees. He answered every question on our questionnaire correctly, adding, "It is important that we continue to have and keep elected officials from our ranks in positions of authority who have a demonstrated track record of working to achieve our common goals of full equality in American society." Mr. Schmidt is a champion of LGBT issues and has a proven record supporting our community. The Empire State Pride Agenda is proud to endorse William Schmidt's re-election to the Peekskill City Council. Mr. Schmidt is being challenged by Democrats Drew Claxton, Ruth Wells, and Mary F. Foster, none of whom submitted a questionnaire seeking the Pride Agenda’s endorsement.
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