Today, surrounded by local leaders in government and labor, Democratic County Legislator Colin Smith officially announced his candidacy for the 95th Assembly District, which contains parts of Westchester and Putnam Counties, including Ossining, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Peekskill, Phillipstown, Cold Spring, and Kent. Smith is a member of the Westchester County Legislature, representing parts of Cortlandt, Peekskill, and Yorktown. He was re-elected to the legislature this past November where he is the Chair of the Committee on Legislation and formerly served as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety.
“I’m excited to announce my candidacy for the New York State Assembly,” said Legislator Colin Smith. “I am proud of my record of delivering real results for the people of Westchester County-- focusing on policy while avoiding partisan fights and grandstanding. We have made real progress in the County Legislature by focusing on the things that unite us and the issues that matter most. I will bring this results-driven approach to Albany and the State Assembly for the good of Westchester and Putnam Counties.”
Colin Smith is a two-term incumbent in the Westchester County Legislature., where he has worked to keep our communities safe and affordable. Colin has played an integral role in the County’s efforts to improve and reimagine how we police our communities as both former Chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee and a member of the countywide Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force. Legislator Smith has also worked tirelessly to help pass historic property tax decreases, address the County’s housing and eviction crisis, and ensure the safe decommissioning of the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. He has been a force in the fight to protect small businesses, homeowners and vulnerable communities ravaged by the COVID-19 crisis by securing testing, food, vaccines, and PPE.
Prior to his tenure in the County Legislature, Colin served as a Trustee on the Peekskill Board of Education from 2012 to 2017, where he bolstered the quality of our public schools while remaining below the state-mandated property tax cap. Colin went on to serve on the Peekskill Common Council from 2017 to 2019 where he worked to enact environmental sustainability measures, modernize antiquated systems such as Peekskill’s web-based parking meters, and worked to ensure fairer and more inclusive hiring processes throughout the city.
In his two terms as County Legislator and decade as an elected official, Smith has earned a reputation as a passionate advocate for his constituents and delivering real results for the people and small businesses of Northern Westchester.
Colin, who was born and raised in the district, is a proud graduate of Peekskill High School. After high school Colin went on to obtain his BA in Philosophy at Cedarville University in Ohio and then his Juris Doctor at Pace Law School in White Plains. After ten years of working as a litigator in the New York Metropolitan Area, Colin went on to open his own practice in Downtown Peekskill where he continues to practice today.
Smith, who has already been endorsed by a number of ranking municipal and county officials and community leaders, concluded by saying: “I thank Assemblymember Sandy Galef for her decades of service to our community. As the baton is now being passed from one generation to the next, I hope to continue Assemblymember Galef’s record of strong representation and results for Westchester and Putnam Counties in the State Assembly. I also look forward to running a respectful, issues-based campaign. Policy matters, facts matter, and people matter, and that’s what this campaign will be about.”
Smith was also endorsed by a number of prominent elected officials and community leaders:
Westchester County Legislator José Alavarado said: “I am thrilled to endorse my friend and colleague County Legislator Colin Smith for State Assembly. Colin and I share a strong dedication to ensuring our underserved communities throughout Westchester are given the necessary opportunities to thrive. Colin has continued to be a strong force in the Legislature for families of middle and modest means, including passing property tax relief for struggling homeowners, aiding small businesses to help them survive the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, and addressing rising homelessness and evictions. Now more than ever, Westchester and Putnam Counties need a proven fighter in the State Assembly and I firmly believe that Colin Smith is that person.”
Village of Mount Kisco Trustee Karine Patiño said: "I am happy to endorse my friend, colleague in government, and fellow attorney, Legislator Colin Smith, for NYS Assembly. Colin brings ten years of experience as an elected official at nearly every level of government, first as a school board member and later as a Peekskill Common Councilman and County Legislator, however, Colin’s record of serving his fellow citizens extends far beyond that from his many years as a practicing attorney. Colin was raised in the district and he knows our communities and understands the issues firsthand. The district will benefit by having someone in Albany who possesses the knowledge and skills to provide them with the funding and legislative support they deserve. It is for those reasons and more that I am excited to support the only choice for State Assembly, Colin Smith."
Peekskill School Board Trustee and Democratic District Leader Allen Jenkins said: "I am proud to endorse my friend and colleague Legislator Colin Smith for State Assembly. Colin has always been an advocate for our students. As a school board trustee, Colin worked diligently to improve the quality of our public schools here in Peekskill while keeping property tax within the state-mandated property tax cap. Colin has continued to stand by our students and teachers throughout his time on the Peekskill Common Council, and now as a two-term incumbent in the Westchester County Board of Legislators. I have no doubt that he will continue to be the strongest of allies for our public schools in Albany, whether that includes ensuring Westchester and Putnam receive their fair share in school funding, or making sure our teachers have the resources to deliver an education worthy of the 21st century."
Local 21 Steamfitters & Plumbers, President Thomas Carey said: “As Business Representative for The Plumbers & Steamfitters HVACR Service Local 21, I support Colin Smith in his race for State Assembly. We need a representative who will continue fighting for good paying jobs and supporting Local labor and approved apprenticeship programs for all trades. We need a leader to follow the entire decommissioning project of Indian Point and to be certain that the residents are safe and assured that every step is followed through, including the removal of all radioactive materials. Colin Smith will be that leader in the State Assembly.”
Westchester County Corrections Superior Officers Association (WCCSOA) President Peter DiChiara said: “Legislator Colin Smith has been a voice of reason while as former Chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Public Safety Committee, a position he has served with honor and integrity. In his time in the County Legislature and as a member of the Countywide Police Reform and Reimagining Task Force, Colin has fostered a productive dialogue and sought to build consensus around divisive national issues to build stronger bridges between law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect. I am confident that Colin Smith will continue to be a leader and advocate for the brave men and women of corrections and other law enforcement in Albany which is why I am proud to support him in his campaign for State Assembly.”
Westchester Corrections Officers Benevolent Association President Neil Pellone said: “Legislator Colin Smith, as former Chair of the Westchester County Legislature Public Safety Committee, has always been there to have dialogue supporting safety and well-being for the women and men of unions and law enforcement. Most recently Colin has been open to pushing for a letter of resolution in increasing penalties for women corrections officers who are sexually harassed. Westchester COBA looks forward to working together with Colin up in Albany!”
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