State legislator, James Skoufis, is preparing to face off against his former opponent, Dorey Houle, in a fight to secure his fourth consecutive term. Skoufis, an Democrats’ representative from Cornwall, surpassed Houle by a margin of less than 1,500 votes in 2022, a victory he credits to the redistricting during the same period. “My introduction to the vast number of constituents in western Orange County and places like Warwick and Middletown was novel,” Skoufis remarks. “Fortunately, they’ve had two years to understand how I operate, my push for representation, and my commitment to serving our communities.”
Skoufis proudly speaks of his achievements during his term, which include the broadening of Universal pre-K, preserving school funding, and facilitating the appointment of a state monitor for the Orange County Industrial Development Agency. The Republican contender and member of the Monroe town board, Houle, indicates consistency in her points of campaign. “My platform remains the same,” confirms Houle. “In fact, the promises made were not only unfilled, they ended up deteriorating the situation.”
Adding another dynamic to the race is Timothy Jon Mitts, a Monroe property owner, who is vying for a win under the Conservative Party banner, unexpectedly eclipsing Houle in the June primary. “I am beholden to no one,” asserts Mitts. “My motivation for participating in this race is drawn from personal desire, not obligation.” He cites a legal struggle against the town of Monroe as a primary influencing factor for his political pursuit.
Last year, Mitts joined a collective of landlords in launching a federal lawsuit against the town, opposing a local ordinance that imposed restrictions on the quantity of rental properties an individual could possess. Mitts held the belief that this law infringed upon his constitutional rights. Although the legislation underwent alterations earlier this year, he, alongside the group of complainants, continues to push for a trial and monetary redress of $7 million.
“Our relationship with Monroe has been politically fraught since 2016 and I thought it was high time for a change,” Mitts continues. “There’s no better vehicle for effecting that change than holding a position at the state level.” Should he win, Mitts has pledged to focus on improving water quality, sewer infrastructure and defending constitutional rights. He also opposes any merger between the town and village of Woodbury and shares Houle’s opposition to Proposition One, which seeks to amend the state constitution to forbid discrimination based on categories like sex, gender and gender identity.
When pressed about the possibility of Mitts drawing votes away from her, Houle confesses her concern. However, despite her defeat in the primary earlier in the year, she insists that she is the legitimate conservative candidate. “Endorsements for my state Senate campaign come from both the New York State Conservative Party and the Orange County Conservative Committee,” she highlights. But Mitts counter-argues, vocally critiquing such preference, “Ignoring the choice of the people while selecting leaders implies disregard for the voting process. That, in my opinion, is quite problematic.”
Houle, proudly identifying as a ‘police officer’s spouse’, has the repeal of New York’s bail and discovery reforms as her top priority, laws that have seen multiple revisions since their enactment in 2019. She argues for a strong link between the issues enveloping Hudson Valley and public safety, and asserts that a complete revocation of these laws would reduce crime, stimulate commercial activity, and revitalize tourism.
“New York State and its cities are avoided by tourists due to safety concerns,” Houle observes. “Addressing public safety is key to boosting tourism, as increased tourist spending will lead to higher sales tax collection.” Houle, who also opposes the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, presents herself as a strict advocate against unlawful immigration. She alleges that the migrant crisis is depleting resources in Hudson Valley and expresses her disapproval towards state funding aiding asylum seekers in New York City.
In contrast, Skoufis acknowledges the migrant issue as significant but points out that it was not instigated by New York. “This crisis is a fall-out from problems faced at the southern border. The last I checked, New York and Mexico do not share a border,” Skoufis remarks. “To exploit fears around the migrant crisis is clear fear mongering. If Houle is so passionate about mitigating the crisis, she should run for Congress rather than the state legislature.”
Undeterred by the onslaught of criticisms, Skoufis allows his record to speak for itself. During this legislative year, his office passed close to 90 bills. Looking ahead, Skoufis declares that the primary challenge is to retain the existing school funding level in the forthcoming state budget. This comes after New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s failed bid to remove the ‘hold harmless’ clause from Foundation Aid this year.
Skoufis also voices his worries over potential revival of congestion pricing, a previously unsuccessful initiative by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to toll drivers entering lower Manhattan. Hochul’s recent announcement that she will propose a new version of this toll scheme towards year-end only intensifies his concern. “I am committed to shielding Orange County from any new or revisited burdensome MTA fees or taxes,” Skoufis declares. “Citizens of Orange County are already overpaying without receiving equal benefits from the MTA.”
The finale to this contested race will unfold on Election Day, scheduled for November 5. It promises to be a face-off characterized by a diversity of views, conflicting interests, and as is usually the case in politics, some unexpected surprises, making it one of the most anticipated events within the regional calendar. The outcome of this contest is sure to not only shape the future of the candidates but also significantly influence the path ahead for the residents of Orange County.
Skoufis vs Houle: Faceoff for Fourth Consecutive Term Stirs Up Orange County appeared first on Real News Now.
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