LATIMER SCORES IN FIRST DEBATE

(September 26, 2008) Voters in the south end of New Rochelle got the first chance to view the candidates for the NYS Assembly, 91st A.D., side-by-side last Thursday at a debate before the NR Reform Club, meeting at the American Legion Post 8 on North Avenue -- and incumbent George Latimer (D-I-WF) scored solid points over the challenger Rob Biagi (R-C).

Latimer, serving in his second term, used the opportunity to outline detailed positions on school funding, lowering property taxes, and dealing with local land use issues, citing his opponent for spending more time running against Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver than
concerning himself with the needs of the people of the district.

During the debate, Latimer noted that "all Rob is doing is parroting the Republican Party line, running against the dysfunction of Albany and placing it all on the doorstep of the Democrats. He utterly fails to mention that his party, the Republicans, have ruled the Senate every one of the last 40 years, and the Republicans controlled the Governorship
and all the executive departments for 12 of the last 14 years." With candor, Latimer said that the Assembly shares its blame for the status quo, but equally with what the Republicans must also share for their role in creating today's situation in state government.

On the substance, Latimer argued that school funding must sequentially involve 1) relieving state unfunded mandates, then 2) providing a tax cut/circuit-breaker for those who own homes but are "cash-poor". Only after that should we 3) impose a tax cap on those schools with runaway taxation. Doing the tax cap first, which Biagi advocates, without mandate relief could wreck a school system. "You would take that 'blunt instrument' that you're so fond of mentioning and applying it to school children and their parents", Latimer said.

Latimer further highlighted the need for an Assemblyman to focus on substance and persuasion to accomplish things, such as reversing plans to eliminate state aid to Larchmont and Mamaroneck Town (a 2007 proposal which was defeated), or adding badly-needed school aid to Rye and Mamaroneck (2008). "Rob proposes to use the office to issue press releases and to build a media profile condemning the Democrats. That road is a Dead End; it leads to no accomplishments for the people of this district", Latimer noted.

Otherwise, the forum questions dwelled heavily on local New Rochelle issues of land use and development. While Biagi castigated the New Rochelle City Council on a number of issues, Latimer upheld the basic principles of Home Rule. "The Thruway is a State issue; Metro-North is a State issue; we should be talking about what an Assemblyman can do do in those venues. I do not believe an Assemblyman should mix himself into those land use matters that properly belong to local electeds to debate. Larchmont wants to make its own decisions. Rye wants to make its own decisions. Mamaroneck and Rye Brook wants to make its own decisions. Rob - because of his unique interests in New Rochelle as a resident - wants to butt in...I want to deal with State issues, and leave local decisions to local residents and electeds." Latimer cited successes in Rye and Mamaroneck on contentious issues that were ultimately resolved without the added hype of outsiders' involvement.

The pair will debate again in coming weeks in Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and Rye, as well as over WVOX radio. Latimer, after the debate, said "I am running hard to earn another two years fighting for this district. I'm prepared to dialogue with anybody to show that I am fully ready for the continued challenge."