Bob Cohen
Street Address: 29 Cherry Lawn Blvd..New Rochelle
Race: Senate District 37 State legislator
More Senate District 37 State legislator candidates: George Latimer |
Political and civic experience: Candidate for 37th senate district in 2010.
Incumbent?: No
Ballot lines:
Party Registration:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/itsbobcohen
Facebook: http://facebook.com/itsbobcohen
Why are you running for office or seeking re-election?
Westchester County residents pay the highest property taxes in the nation. To me, this is not just an abstract problem. The property tax burden has affected my neighbors and friends. It has hurt our seniors and our young people. It has driven families from their homes and prevented others from starting one.
In 2009 I was moved to action by watching the State Senate embarrass itself repeatedly and fail utterly to solve any of the problems Westchester residents face. I challenged Senator Oppenheimer -- a 26 year incumbent -- and although she was heavily favored, I managed to come within a few hundred votes of defeating her.
Two years later, most of the problems I saw in 2009 and 2010 -- the high taxes, the out of touch state government, the sense that we need real change and our current representatives just can't give it to us -- remain. Senator Oppenheimer may be retiring, but there there is a long line of career politicians ready to take her place. We cannot allow that to happen.
I applaud Governor Cuomo; he has taken steps in the right direction. I strongly support his property tax cap, as well as his historic pension reform package, which is estimated to save New York $80 billion over the next 30 years. But the job is not done. Westchester taxpayers need a representative who will continue to fight for their interests, and that is what I intend to do.
What in your personal, civic or professional experience recommends your election or return to office?
In my mind, there are three traits that a representative needs to be successful.
First, a deep connection to the community he represents.
Second, a sincere willingness to actually solve the problems his community faces, rather than merely posturing for the next election.
Third, a loyalty to the people of the community, rather than to political factions, special interest groups, or personal career ambitions.
I have lived in Westchester with my wife Barbara for nearly 25 years. We raised our three children here and sent them to public schools. I have been a volunteer firefighter for twenty years. I coached baseball and softball when my children were younger. Westchester is my home, and I care deeply about its future.
I am not a career politician, I am a businessman, parent, and concerned citizen. My business experience, starting and running a successful real estate and construction company in New York, makes me uniquely qualified to deal with the challenges New York faces in the coming years. I know how to create jobs, and how to meet a payroll. I know the importance of sticking to a budget, and of understanding the value of a dollar. I have first-hand experience with the roadblocks Albany has placed in front of small businesses in New York, and know how we can reform them to make our economy more dynamic and prosperous.
But perhaps most importantly, I have not spent my career in the bowels of Albany, cutting deals with special interests in exchange for campaign donations, and avoiding difficult choices because they may endanger my re-election. Albany needs real people who care about real solutions. If given the chance, I will do my best to find them.
What would be your top three priorities if you are elected or re-elected?
First, property tax relief. Westchester has the highest property taxes in America. That needs to change. My top priority will be to deliver property tax relief to Westchester by protecting the property tax cap, relieving the burden of unfunded mandates, and restoring the STAR rebate program for middle class families.
Second, increased school aid to Westchester. Yonkers, Eastchester, Port Chester, and other communities in Westchester get short-changed by Albany, receiving less school aid than any other place in New York. This contributes directly to our high property tax bill, and it is time we had a representative in Albany who will fight for our fair share.
Third, economic growth and jobs. New York State has the worst business climate in America, ranked 50th out of 50 states. As a result, our unemployment rate is 9%, higher than the national average and one of the worst in the country. We need to get New Yorkers working again, and to do that, we need to bring a business-friendly approach to state government. My plan in the Senate will be to give tax credits to businesses that create new jobs, reduce the fees we pay on top of our energy bills, invest in higher education and technology, and eliminate burdensome fees, bureaucracy, and regulation at the state level. All of these things will help make our economy more dynamic, and create more jobs.
