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Sandra Galef

Street Address: 44 Orchard DriveOssining, NY 10562

Race: Assembly District 95 State legislator

More Assembly District 95 State legislator candidates: Kim Izzarelli |

Political and civic experience: Member of the New York State Assembly since 1993. Serving as Chair of the Assembly Real Property Taxation Committee and formerly Chair of the Libraries and Education Technology Committee. Serves on the Assembly Committees of Health, Government Operations, Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Election Law, and the Assembly Majority Steering Committee. Awarded a fellowship for the Eastern Leadership Academy at the University of Pennsylvania Fels Institute of Government from the Council of State Governments. Member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators 1980-93 and served eight years as Minority Leader. President of the New York State Association of Counties. Employee Benefits Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties

Age: 73

Family: Widow of Steven A. Galef, Attorney in NYC and Westchester County. Two children – Graig, a Financial Planner at Strategies for Wealth, and Gwen, an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester

Residency: Sandy Galef 44 Orchard Drive Ossining, NY 10562

Incumbent?: Yes

Ballot lines:

Education: Masters of Education, University of Virginia – 1965 Bachelor of Science, Purdue University – 1962 White Plains High School – 1958

Occupation: Full-time Member of the New York State Assembly

Facebook: http://facebook.com/http://www.facebook.com/SandyGalefForNYSAssembly

Why are you running for office or seeking re-election?
We, as New Yorkers, have experienced very difficult times since 2008. I have been working hard with Governor Cuomo and in a bi-partisan way with my colleagues to deal effectively with the downturn in the national economy as it impacts New York. I believe that we have made substantive progress and are taking the right steps to put our fiscal house in order. We have had two years of on-time state budgets with no budget deficits, downsized state government, and consolidated state agencies. At the same time, we cut the tax rate for 99% of New Yorkers for the first time in 58 years and we adopted the 2% tax cap for all schools and municipalities. Our state budget stayed within the 2% tax cap. We increased aid to our schools by $805 million, made major investments in key job-creation programs including construction of roads and bridges, and removed the state 4% sales tax on all clothing and shoes under $110. We adopted significant mandate relief by taking over Medicaid Administration from counties saving $1.2 billion in 5 years and adopted a new pension system to save taxpayers $80 billion over 30 years.

As a result of our actions, we had an increase in our S&P rating from stable to positive and the US Chamber of Commerce ranked New York in the top 10 states for economic performance – an 11 spot boost since last year.

New York is moving forward and we have accomplished so much but we have more to do. By working together in a bi-partisan way with the Senate and the Governor, we will keep the momentum going.

I want to continue to represent you in Albany as your full-time member of the New York State Assembly. I ask for your vote on Election Day.

What in your personal, civic or professional experience recommends your election or return to office?
I have been dedicated to public service both as a volunteer and as an elected official almost my whole life. I view my position as a member of the legislature as a continuing commitment to help people, both through working on legislation to assure that we have good state laws and appropriate and balanced budgets, and by working to assist people in my district with problems they have on a day-to-day basis. I am so pleased that my office staff and I have been of great assistance to so many constituents and have made a real difference in their lives.

Before being elected to the New York State Assembly, I was a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, serving as Minority Leader for eight years.

I have been involved with numerous community organizations. I was president of the League of Women Voters of Briarcliff/Ossining, president of the United Way of Northern Westchester, on the board of directors of the Ossining Public Library, Phelps
Memorial Hospital Center, Visiting Nurse Service of Westchester, Bethel Nursing Home, Day Care Council of Westchester, Westchester Medical Center Children’s Hospital Foundation, Metropolitan New York Library Council, and the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education Foundation, among others.

I am the host of two cable television shows – “Dear Sandy” and “Speak Out” which bring discussions of state and local issues to the public as well as highlighting the work of involved and interesting people living in this area.

What would be your top three priorities if you are elected or re-elected?
Taxes - Accomplishments:

Adopted a tax cap of 2% for all schools and municipal governments;
NYS budget stayed within the 2% tax cap;
Eliminated a $13.5 billion state budget deficit without new fees or gimmicks;
Cut tax rate for 99% of New Yorkers for the first time in 58 years;
Two-years of on-time state budgets that downsized state government and consolidated agencies;
Increased aid to our schools by $805 million to save money for property taxpayers;
Cut 4% state sales tax on clothing and shoes under $110;
Adopted mandate relief for counties through state takeover of Medicaid Administration saving $1.2 in 5 years for county taxpayers;
Put in place a new pension system for public employees to save $80 billion over 30 years;
Removed the MTA payroll tax from all schools and most businesses;
Passed legislation to allow the Ossining Village and Town Courts to merge, saving tax dollars;
Allowed school districts to share transportation to private and religious school as coordinated by BOCES;
No member items (pork) in past three state budgets.

Taxes – Goals:

Work toward having the state takeover the entire Medicaid program relieving this costly program from county taxpayers;
Adopt a NYS Circuit Breaker Program to give income tax credits to those who pay too great a percent of their total income for all property taxes;
Develop more opportunities and stimulate more action in the area of consolidation and sharing of services with our schools, our municipalities, and our court system;
Adopt a Constitutional Amendment to not allow mandates from the state without financial funding to follow;
Provide more mandate relief through elimination of the WICKS law to save 10-30% in public construction costs;
Cutting state mandates in other areas for schools and municipalities;
Work to have the state takeover the cost of the criminal background checks for employees in our schools;
Eliminate Member Items (pork) in state budgets.

Jobs/Economy - Accomplishments:

Supported the rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge;
Budget included $1.2 billion to NY Works for road and bridge reconstruction and $89 million to improve our parks – all creating new jobs and work programs;
Provided Regional Economic Councils with $220 million in funding to develop local job opportunities;
NY Solar program funded with $800 million to promote new solar projects at commercial and residential properties;
By lowering the tax burden and maintaining the 2% tax cap we encourage a better fiscal climate in New York for people to engage in business opportunities;
Made Power for Jobs permanent to keep businesses in NY by providing low cost power.

Jobs/Economy - Goals:

Foster continued tax cuts and fiscal responsibility in state government;
Continue to eliminate business regulations that are not necessary;
Promote energy development through a new Transmission Corridor and new energy producing plants such as Cricket Valley in Dover, NY and the Hudson Champlain line from Canada;
Increase tax credits for solar installations on homes and businesses;
Work toward energy efficiencies in our schools and in government buildings;
Stimulate hiring of unemployed persons and Veterans through tax credits to employers;
Push the building of the new Tappan Zee Bridge and develop plans for mass transit in the future.

Health/Safety – Accomplishments:

New law to encourage organ donations will save lives (only 19% of New Yorkers have signed up to be potential donors)
Banned tanning machine use for those under 16;
Adopted I-STOP legislation to create a prescription drug data base to protect against drug abuse and misuse;
Recent elimination of smoking at MTA railroad station platforms;
Requiring schools to develop anti-bullying action programs;
Made it a crime to knowingly access child pornography online;
Banned texting while driving;
Stricter bail requirements for those who repeatedly commit domestic violence crimes;
Allows certificates for still births.

Health/Safety - Goals:

Establish a New York Health Exchange to provide affordable health insurance options for individuals and businesses;
Adopt legislation to require a person operating a mechanically-propelled vessel to have a boat safety certificate as is required in NJ and CT;
Eliminate smoking in children’s playgrounds;
Expand EPIC – the Senior Citizen Prescription Drug program;
Assure that all women have the right to control their own health care decisions;
Work to increase alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal to maintain quality of air and water;
Continue moratorium on hydro-fracking in NY;
Push better nutritional policies for our children to combat childhood obesity.