Jenkins and Sculti vie for Westchester County Executive

WESTCHESTER, N.Y. - On Nov. 4, voters will see a rematch of February’s special election between Democratic County Executive Ken Jenkins and Republican Christine Sculti.

Jenkins bested Sculti last winter by a measure of 60,020 to 34,175 votes in the bid to finish George Latimer’s unexpired term after he stepped down to become the 16th district’s Congressional representative.

Before Election Day, Halston Media offered the candidates the opportunity to address voters and explain, in their own words, their qualifications and what they see as the top priorities if elected. (Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.)

KEN JENKINS

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I became the 10th County Executive earlier this year. I am the son of a NYC Police Officer and a nurse. I attended Fordham Preparatory School and Iona University, earning a BS in Computer Science and Information Systems. My wife, Deborah, and I have lived in Yonkers since our marriage in 1982. We have three adult children, and I became a first-time grandfather this year. I have had a career in telecommunications and technology, holding key positions in several leading companies. I also have expertise in the real estate sector as an owner and broker at ERA Gem Realty. In addition to my service as Deputy County Executive, I served on the County Board of Legislators, including four years as Chairman. I have a long history of public and community involvement, including board service with the Greyston Foundation, United Way, Westchester Crime Stoppers, the Community Planning Council of Yonkers, Westchester District Attorney’s Community Advisory Committee and as President of the Yonkers Branch of the NAACP.  I have served as Chairman of the Yonkers Democratic Committee, Secretary of the Westchester County Democratic Committee and Treasurer of the NYS Democratic Committee.

What are the most important issues facing Westchester County, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

I have been hard at work on the important issues: working to make Westchester affordable through smart budgeting and building affordable housing, holding the line on property taxes, continuing to protect the environment, addressing flooding brought on by climate change, strengthening our infrastructure and making Westchester a safe place for people to work and live. Crime rates have decreased, and I have worked to restore our AAA bond ratings. I have dedicated over two decades to public service and I have a deep understanding of local government and an ability to work with our municipal partners to provide the best for our residents.

If re-elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

I will continue to focus on the needs of Westchester residents by working to reduce the cost of living, boosting affordable housing and childcare, getting guns off our streets, investing in safer communities, addressing the opioid crisis, making key investments in infrastructure to help address flooding, and protecting the environment. I will continue to advance key initiatives that support middle-class families and I will continue to defend a woman’s right to choose.

CHRISTINE SCULTI

Please outline your career, leadership, and educational accomplishments.

I have extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. I helped run a family business for a decade right here in Westchester, followed by running the mid-Atlantic for an international cruise line. 

My career also spans the public sector, having held leadership roles at the state, city, and county levels. As NYS Mid-Hudson Regional Director, I was responsible for economic development for 7 counties.  I then worked in economic development for the City of Yonkers.  Most recently, I have worked in Westchester County government for 16 years, including  serving as the highest-ranking woman in the Astorino administration. I know how county government works and where it doesn’t.

My education includes Sacred Heart in Hartsdale, Academy of the Resurrection in Rye,  and I am a proud graduate of Fordham University having received my B.S. in Psychology.

What are the most important issues facing Westchester County, and why are you the most qualified to address them?

Westchester residents suffer from one of the highest costs of living in the nation and Ken Jenkins has only made things worse. His $452 million sales tax increase was the single the largest tax hike in Westchester  history. Mr. Jenkins even voted to close Indian Point without an  environmental review and without a plan to replace the 25% energy, which  led to energy rates soaring 28% the last 5 years and next year rates are  expected to increase another 11%.  Ken was silent when Albany Democrats  passed their radical Green New Energy deal with no plan and no funding. This unfunded mandate requires utilities companies to overhaul the infrastructure with impossible deadlines passing these exorbitant costs onto ratepayers. Ken’s theatrics are too little too late for families being crushed financially, as his silence was deafening. In addition, Westchester now faces the real possibility of losing up to $700 million in federal funding due to Ken Jenkins’ refusal to repeal his dangerous Sanctuary County Law. As Chief Advisor in the Astorino administration, we cut taxes and kept spending flat for 8 years while protecting essential program and services through good management and fiscal discipline. The budget was the same when we came into office as when we left, which is a sharp contrast to Ken Jenkins who raised spending by a whopping $650 billion and added 800 positions to the county budget.

If elected, what will be your top priorities over the next year?

My top priorities include:

1.) Repealing Ken Jenkins’ dangerous Sanctuary County Law, which protects violent criminal illegal aliens over law abiding citizens, drains vital resources and is jeopardizing $700 million in federal funding. 

2.) Restoring fiscal discipline to county government, which has seen a historic spending spree bloat government from $1.8 billion to $2.5 billion under Ken Jenkins.  His $452 million sales tax increase is the largest tax hike in Westchester history.  I want to provide meaningful tax relief to Westchester residents. 

3.) Westchester residents cannot afford their energy bill, plain and simple. I will fight Albany and the utilities’ outrageous rate hikes to restore affordability for Westchester families, seniors and small businesses.