MID-HUDSON – State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) has called out fellow Democrat Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha (D, Esopus), for what he said was her misrepresentation of his budget vote and political position earlier this year, while trying to use it to her advantage during a heated primary race.
Shrestha faces a challenge from Skoufis’ former Deputy Chief of Staff Gabi Madden, in the 103rd Assembly District Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 25. The district is comprised of mainly Ulster County, including Kingston and New Paltz, and a small part of Dutchess County.
“To date, I have not said a single word against or about the incumbent, Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha. My focus has been on supporting Gabi,” Skoufis said. “Unfortunately, Assemblymember Shrestha has repeatedly and disingenuously cited my vote against one of this year’s budget bills as justification for her own ‘no’ vote. Yesterday, I privately reached out to her and respectfully requested she stop incorporating me in her talking points – she refused.”
Shrestha’s office did not provide a comment for this story.
Skoufis said that Shrestha cited her “no” vote as merely “symbolic” and asserted her opposition to the budget was rooted in ideological differences rather than district-specific, substantive issues. The senator said he nixed it due to its disregard of his Orange County district: It lacked flooding aid that several communities have asked for after last July’s storm in the Highland Falls area, omitted toll relief that was included in the Senate’s budget proposal, and balked on universal pre-K expansion.
Skoufis said that Shrestha cited her “no” vote as merely “symbolic.”
“In 12 years serving in the legislature, I’ve never heard a lawmaker characterize their vote as symbolic,” Skoufis said. “My vote against the budget bill was decidedly consequential. (Shrestha’s) was not. Given her posture, the Assembly member should disclose – before every vote moving forward – whether her forthcoming vote will be cast with meaning or symbolically.”
Skoufis said his “no” votes and those cast by Shrestha “bear no similarities whatsoever. I encourage Ulster and Dutchess counties voters to cast a primary vote with meaning – not symbolically – later this month.”
