MONTGOMERY – New York State Assemblyman Colin Schmitt [R-Washingtonville] has made it official, he is running for national office in a bid to unseat incumbent Sean Patrick Maloney, a Democrat from the 18th Congressional District, in 2022.
“I’m a local guy, I grew up here in the Hudson Valley,” said Schmitt, also a sergeant in the New York State Army National Guard. “I originally ran for the State Assembly to make sure we had a voice defending the Hudson Valley in Albany.”
Schmitt said he has worked in a bipartisan manner in Albany, something he said Maloney has not done as a congressman.
“In contrast, my opponent Sean Patrick Maloney votes 100 percent of the time with Nancy Pelosi. He sold us out by turning his back on local law enforcement to appease the radical left,” said Schmitt. “That is unacceptable. We deserve a congressman, not a Democratic campaign chairman.”
If he defeats Maloney, Schmitt said he wants to bring jobs to region, enhance respect of law enforcement and work to relieve property taxes.
“We also need relieve the property tax burden, starting with Federal government doing its role and repealing the SALT cap,” he said.
Maloney has supported the SALT repeal since it was imposed, a campaign spokesperson said.
Maloney, meanwhile, said he is concentrating on delivering for his district and winning the war against COVID-19.
“Last month, I helped pass the American Rescue Plan Act, which sends $339 million to NY-18 counties, $122 million to our local cities, $55 million to our towns and villages, and $204 million to our school districts,” he said. “This cash is going to restart our economy by putting checks in pockets, getting shots in arms, and sending kids back to school safely. I am currently working to pass transformational infrastructure legislation that will inject money into our local economy and get folks back to work in good-paying jobs.”
Meanwhile, Orange County Democratic Chairman Brett Broge said Schmitt is “bad for the Hudson Valley and bad for New York’s 18th Congressional District.”
Broge said on January 6, the day of the Capitol riot, Schmitt “cheered on busloads of people driving down to Washington, D.C. to participate in a violent riot incited by former President Trump’s Big Lie that the election was stolen – the lie which Schmitt has still not denounced.”
