Skoufis announces Senate campaign (Photo: Anthony Lucarelli)
HIGHLAND MILLS – Democrat James Skoufis ended all speculation today
by announcing he will run for the State Senate post being vacated by the
retiring William Larkin.
“I have treated everyone and every community equally; no preferential
treatment,” he said.
“We can’t afford to turn back,” he said, announcing
his bid for the State Senate seat.
He told supporters he will continue to stand up to the insurance industry,
will “kick to the curb the state’s pay-to-play economic development
schemes” and will support efforts to allow adults who were sexually
abused as children to sue their alleged abusers.
Skoufis said the City of Newburgh has been treated as “an outcast”
in the state for years, something he will fight against “so that
Newburgh can thrive once more.”
“This is the beginning of the end of all the nonsense,” Congressman
Sean Patrick Maloney, said referring to activities in Albany and Washington.
Skoufis and Maloney both praised Larkin for his dedication to the district.
State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who also attended the Skoufis announcement,
said this is an “exciting time for the Hudson Valley.” DiNapoli
noted Skoufis’ commitment is to the people in the region.
“It’s going to be an awesome election season,” Orange
County Democratic Party Chairman Brett Broge said.
By running for the Senate, he will be giving up his Assembly seat in January
whether he wins or loses the Senate race.
Two Republicans have announced for the GOP nod for the 39th Senate District,
Thomas Basile, a Stony Point town councilman, and Michael Anagnostakis,
and Orange County legislator from the Town of Newburgh.
Basile has endorsement of Larkin and the Orange County GOP Committee.
The district includes parts of Orange, Ulster and Rockland counties.
Skoufis said Anagnostakis is an honorable member of the Orange County
Legislature while Basile has been a political operative for years.
“Like so many in our area, I’m raising kids here, running
a business and living in the real world,” Basile said following
Skoufis’ announcement. “For six years, Mr. Skoufis has cranked
out one soundbite after another. While he’s proven capable of getting
his name in the paper, he’s repeatedly failed the people in this
area who actually pay the bills. Whether it’s his votes for giveaways
to Hollywood producers, government-run healthcare that would bankrupt
our state, or his own massive so-called ‘free’ college entitlement
program, we simply can’t trust Mr. Skoufis to do right by our families
and businesses. Those of us out here in the real world know there’s
no such thing as ‘free.’ The people of this area know that
more government we can’t afford doesn’t make life fairer.
It just drives up the cost of living here and drives people out.”
Anagnostakis issued a statement Monday evening saying Skoufis “is
a hard worker and has fought his own party bosses for the good of Orange
County citizens. I welcome him to the race!”
