Campaign Financing Addressed at Westchester Leagues Luncheon

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Elisabeth Radow, president of the League of Women Voters Larchmont-Mamaroneck, and the rest of the chapter, hosted their annual spring luncheon at Mamaroneck’s Orienta Beach Club Friday.

“We want people to come talk about topics,” Radow said.

Common Cause New York Executive Director Susan Lerner tackled the topic: “Money in Politics – Can Americans Beat the Odds and Establish Fairness in Campaign Finance,” which the league felt was prominent to address considering 2012 is an election year.

“We need to be advocates to each other,” Lerner said. “I believe that with the elections (coming up) there is a better alternative.”

Common Cause New York, and its national counterpart, are the citizen's lobbyist for clean elections and ethical standards for elected officials, the league said. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization often works with the league on public interest issues. Lerner was previously the executive director of the California Clean Money Campaign before assuming her current post with Common Cause New York. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago and NYU School of Law.

Local high school students chosen to participate in this year’s Students Inside Albany Conference (SIA) were invited by the sound leagues of Larchmont-Mamaroneck, New Rochelle, Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester to report on their experience.

These students from throughout the state participated in the league’s four-day public policy training program last month in Albany. The program also educated them on how they can influence public policy and provided them with an opportunity to meet and shadow their elected representatives, debate current policy issues, tour the capitol and more.

Debbie Reisner, Rye, Rye Brook and Port Chester president, said the league comes to the event every year.

“We come every year to make this a very meaningful event,” Reisner said.

League of Women Voters of New Rochelle President Cindy Kahn said all the leagues work together to make events like these happen.

“It’s a collaborative effort,” Kahn said.

 

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