Meet The Candidate: Lawler For New York State Assembly

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — New Yorkers in Rockland County will choose their state representatives Nov. 3 in the 2020 general election.

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

Mike Lawler is seeking to unseat incumbent Ellen Jaffee in Assembly District 97. The district covers Orangetown and part of the town of Ramapo.

Lawler, a Republican, is also running on the Conservative, Independence, and SAM Party lines.

Lawler, 34, has been Orangetown's Deputy Town Supervisor since 2018. He is a partner in Checkmate Strategies. He was campaign manager for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino's gubernatorial campaign in 2014 and served as Assistant to the County Executive in Westchester from 2015-16. Before that he was Executive Director, New York Republican State Committee (2011-2014) and Special Assistant to the Chairman (2009-2011).

Campaign website: www.lawler4ny.com

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Mike Lawler:

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a lifelong resident of Rockland County, I'm running because our county and state have become unaffordable for working families, seniors, and young people starting out. My focus is to ensure that all New Yorkers have a good paying job to provide for their family; a quality, affordable education for their children; access to affordable healthcare; and safe neighborhoods to live in. I want to fight for the people of Rockland County and ensure we are getting our fair share of state aid when it comes to schools, infrastructure, the MTA, and municipal aid.

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

Affordability and public safety.

Rockland County pays the second highest property taxes in America. It needs to change. New York State is the only state left that forces counties to pay 25 percent of the cost of Medicaid. I will fight to force New York State to fully fund and run our out-of-control Medicaid system, taking it off our property tax bill. In addition, Rockland County is continually shortchanged in state school aid. I will fight to fix the broken formula, so that we are treated the same as Long Island and New York City schools, as opposed to upstate New York schools. We deserve our fair share!

With respect to public safety, I will opposed any effort to defund our police and will fight to repeal the disastrous cashless bail law which made our communities less safe and has led to an increase in crime.

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

The biggest difference between my opponent and myself is that I will stand up and fight for the residents of Rockland County and always put their interests first. My opponent has been a rubber stamp for the progressive Democrats from New York City and voted against the interests of Rockland County residents on issue after issue, including taxes and spending, state school aid, congestion pricing, public safety, and energy and infrastructure investments. I will focus on making Rockland more affordable, ensure that we get our fair share of state school aid and MTA services, promote the public safety, and promote policies that lead to economic growth and opportunity.

In what way has the current board or officeholder failed the district?

My opponent is a 14-year incumbent, who has failed to address many of the issues plaguing our community: high taxes and budget deficits, a broken state school aid formula, draconian cuts in MTA service, increased crime, and outrageous Medicaid costs. In addition, she has been entirely absent during the COVID-19 pandemic, not reaching out to local elected officials or helping residents deal with the fiscal and health impacts of the pandemic.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I will reduce our tax burden by fixing the unfair state school-aid formula and introduce legislation that requires the state fully pay for and run our Medicaid program; I believe education is a fundamental right and that every child should have a quality, affordable education. I'll fight to increase funding and improve standards; I will work with our local elected officials to promote our educated workforce, proximity to the city, and cost effective commercial properties to attract jobs and investment in Rockland County; I will scrap the dangerous “bail reform law” by ensuring dangerous criminals stay behind bars and allowing greater judicial discretion when administering bail; and I will fight to pass a statewide term limits bill that caps the Governor at two 4-year terms and State Senators and Assembly Members at five 2-year terms.

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

I am a successful small business owner with years of political and governmental experience at the federal, state, and local level. Having worked in county government, serving as Deputy Town Supervisor in local government, and working in state party politics, I understand the critical role that a state legislator plays in helping our residents and representing the needs and interests of our municipalities and communities. In addition, as a registered lobbyist, I have worked to secure state funding for critical infrastructure projects that will result in thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development and investment.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

To whom much is given, much is expected;
Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat

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

As a lifelong Rockland County resident, I care about our community and will go to Albany, not to be a potted plant, but to work on behalf of all of our residents. I will fight for our interests when necessary and work across party lines to find real solutions to address the issues that matter most to our residents.