Candidate Profile: Mark Jaffe For State Assembly

HUDSON VALLEY, NY - New Yorkers will be hitting the polls on June 23 for the primary election to choose which representatives will be running will be on the ballot for the general election in November.

Among the local races, some residents of the Hudson Valley will be able to elect who will run for State Assembly in District 93.

The district contains all of Interstate 684 in Westchester County and includes Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge and White Plains. The current officeholder, David Buchwald, is running for Congress in District 17.

In anticipation of the election, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Mark Jaffe is seeking the Democratic line on the ballot in November. His opponents in the June 23 primary are Kristen Browde, Chris Burdick, Jeremiah Frei-Pearson and Alex Roithmayr.

Jaffe, 63, has been the president and CEO of the Greater NY Chamber of Commerce for more than two decades. He has been Democratic District Leader and Treasurer of the Manhattan Borough Economic Development Corporation.

He graduated from Dobbs Ferry public schools, graduated from SUNY Albany cum laude, earned an MBA at the University Of Utah and graduated from the Cardozo School of Law JD/MPA Program.

Campaign website: JAFFE4NY.COM

Check out Patch's full Q&A with XX:

Why are you seeking elective office?

We need less politicians and more common sense leaders in Albany to protect the Westchester lifestyle.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Economic Justice. We need to have fair wages and get billionaires to pay more becasue they benefit the most form our capitalistic system .

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have real life experience. I ran a company and hired over 100 people right out of business school. I am a lawyer who understands the law and as CEO of the Chamber I have successfully advocated for legislation that helps to make NY a better place to live and work. I am not running to be a career politician. I have a great job & pension at the Chamber. I am running because we need a strong voice and a leader who can use common sense to get things done for the people in Albany.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

This is an open seat and we need someone who will lead and not just be a party machine politician looking for their next gig!

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Good jobs & better wages (we can't chase away companies like Amazon), more affordable college loans, safer schools and better training for our police, more affordable health care (insurance rates are too high because insurance companies & pharmaceuticals take too much), green economy jobs, better mass transit and roads, advocacy and fairness ( it's tough when some people make "billions" and others struggle while earning minimum wage.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Led the Fight for $15 and doubled the minimum wage in the State that helped the NYS economy improve. Helped roll out the Affordable Heath Care Act & was Legal Counsel for NYRX Card that saved NY'ers over $300 million dollars off their prescription drugs. Served on the White House Business Council that helped secured TIFIA loans to rebuild the Tappan Zee Bridge and stood with Governor Cuomo at the Cuomo Bridge reopening and the expanded LaGuardia that will help keep the growth of Westchester Airport under control.

I worked three NYC police commissioners to help improve community policing and served as legal counsel to the Business & Labor Coalition of NY and know how to work with unions.
As President of a a business & civic group representing over 30,000 entities, I have built strong coalitions with Black, Asian & Hispanic groups and have always been an advocate for gender equality and women's rights.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father told me "we live in a great country and need to work within the system to make it even better"

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I want to maintain the tax caps and cut out fraud and waste form the system as I did when I was appointed the treasurer of the Manhattan Borough Economic Development Corporation and found over $30 million dollars that were misappropriated before my term.