NEW WINDSOR – Republican Colin Schmitt of New Windsor has been
testing the political water for a potential run for the 99th Assembly
District and on Saturday he made if official with a formal announcement
that he would seek the post.
Surrounded by some 100 supporters including a number of GOP and Conservative
Party officials, Schmitt said state government is dysfunctional and he
wants to go to Albany and address key issues.
If elected, Schmitt said his focus will be increasing public school funding,
replacing the Common Core curriculum with one that will offer more parent
input and oversight, relieving the tax burden, supporting term limits,
stripping pensions from elected officials who were convicted of felonies,
teaming up with Orange County to fight welfare fraud, opposing “any
and all” property annexations, protecting environmental interests
with regards to the Kiryas Joel pipeline.
Schmitt also said he would hold the state Department of Environmental
Conservation accountable for “their failures to the communities
they serve,” making the Veterans’ Equality Act a top priority
and helping veteran partners who have a state-licensed profession from
losing their licenses for having to be relocated to New York, or vice
versa, due to military assignments.
Schmitt is a member of the Army National Guard and previously worked for
Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt when she was a state assemblywoman and
former State Senator Gregory Ball.
“Collin is not going to be a place holder; he’s definitely
going to be up in Albany. He’s going to fight for the district and
this is a big difference from what we’ve seen in the last few years,”
said Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus.
At this point it is unclear who Schmitt will face in the November election.
Democratic incumbent James Skoufis has not yet said if he would seek re-election
as he is also toying with running against long time Republican incumbent
William Larkin.
