LATIMER SHOWS GRASSROOTS STRENGTH IN ASSEMBLY RACE

(July 22, 2008) Assemblyman George Latimer, two-term incumbent from Rye in the Sound Shore's 91st District, has exhibited some significant grassroots support in his bid for re-election during the last few weeks. The Latimer Campaign submitted over 1550 petition signatures from enrolled Democrats
- over 3 times the amount required - to qualify for the November ballot in the petition drive which closed in early July. By contrast his opponent, seeking the Republican line, mustered just over 600 names against the same goal of 500 valid signatures.

"Over 50 active volunteers went out to obtain signatures for George," stated Fred Baron, Treasurer of the Latimer for Assembly campaign. "His popularity among the people who live in these communities is very high - they know he's done a good job fighting for them in Albany. Just look at the petition results - he garnered more signatures in every community in the district." Latimer also qualified to run on the Independence Party line (Row C) and the Working Families Party line (Row E).

Campaign financial filings were also released in mid-July, showing Latimer had raised over $60,000 in the last cycle, compared to his opponent's $9,000. "The key is the individual donor," Baron noted. "George received the bulk of his money from over 400 individual donors - roughly half of them contributing under $100. per person. That's a lot of people who gave him $25 or $50 just because they're with him."

Baron indicated that there would be detailed discussion of the issues come the fall season; "George has lived his job 24/7 for these four years, and in his prior years of service at the County and as a local Councilman before that. He will make a strong case for his record...I even expect to see prominent Republicans endorse him in the weeks to come."

Latimer, 54, is a resident of Rye, with offices in Mamaroneck. The district includes all of Larchmont, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Mamaroneck Town and Village, Rye City and Rye Town, and part of New Rochelle.