NY Senate Race: Who Supports Tax Reform Most?

by Judy Silberstein

(June 11, 2008) In a preview to the upcoming months of political campaigning in New York’s 37th Senate District, challenger Liz Feld, the mayor of Larchmont, and incumbent Suzi Oppenheimer have already begun ping-ponging on the issue of property tax reductions. Ms. Feld, a Republican, came out strongly in favor of recent proposals for a 4% cap on annual hikes in local school budgets. Ms. Oppenheimer, a Democrat, said she would consider even stronger measures and is hosting hearings on the issue this Friday at the White Plains Library. (See: Tax Hearings)

Last week, the NY State Commission on Property Tax Relief, headed by Nassau Executive Tom Suozzi, issued its recommendations, chiefly a cap on property tax increases. (See: Property Tax Relief Report.) Ms. Feld was quick to jump on board. Last week she challenged Ms. Oppenheimer to a series of 14 debates on the issue. In an open letter to Ms. Oppenheimer this week, Ms. Feld wrote: “I will support” the bi-partisan proposal. “In fact I will sponsor legislation to enact it in the Senate, if I am elected.” She challenged her opponent to be equally specific.

“Senator Oppenheimer’s position is that all options are on the table,” said Steve Otis, the mayor of Rye who works on the senator’s legislative program. He said the Friday hearings will include presentations on various methods to rein in property taxes. Among the speakers is John Reid, the executive director of the Tax Reform Commission, whose report includes a tax cap proposal.

In her letter, Ms. Feld said the issue had been “building for years here in Westchester” and has been “discussed at length in Albany by reformers on both sides of the aisle.”

Mr. Otis also said that tax reform is only one item Ms. Oppenheimer is addressing as the Legislature winds up its session in Albany. For example, on Wednesday, June 11 she joined others from the Senate Democratic Conference to urge passage of the “Healthy Teens Act” that would fund a “local-option grant program” for “comprehensive, age-appropriate and medically accurate sexuality education.”

In recent years Ms. Oppenheimer has received only token opposition, and has won re-election by margins of 60-70%. By all appearances, Ms. Feld, with the backing of the Senate Republicans, is aiming to mount a vigorous campaign. With the Republicans holding on to the majority by only 2 seats, they are more motivated than usual to field candidates, even in districts that have large Democratic majorities, as is the case in the 37th district.

In the near future, the Gazette will be opening a political page for candidates to post their biographical information, letters of support – and dueling press releases.

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