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The district includes Yorktown, Somers, Carmel, Putnam Valley, Southeast and Patterson.
Name: Andrew Falk Age: 45 Family: My wife Amy and two young sons, ages 9 and 5. Occupation: Lawyer How long have you lived in town: 9 ½ years Party affiliation and ballot lines held: Democratic and Working Families. Years in office: Never held office
1) What are the three biggest issues facing your district?
In the Assembly, I will make sure the needs of the middle class are my top priority. I will work to create good-paying jobs so our families have better opportunities; fight to protect schools and taxpayers from unfunded state requirements that put a burden on local governments; and put more money into our pockets by increasing the minimum wage and supporting the fair pay act so that men and women earn equal pay for equal work.
2) How would you address those issues?
I will use my private-sector business experience and will reach across party lines to work in partnership with other officials to get things done for our community.
3) What would you do differently than your opponent?
Unlike my opponent, I will fight to raise the minimum wage, because our families cannot survive and raise a family on $15,000 a year. New York State’s current minimum wage is keeping over 1 million hardworking people in crushing poverty. Nearly two-thirds of these individuals are women, and women on average earn 77 cents on the dollar compared to men. I believe that by increasing the minimum wage, we will immediately stimulate our local economy and take a step forward in the fight to end wage discrimination. I will also fight to protect the health and physical security of Hudson Valley women by ensuring continued support for Planned Parenthood and treating domestic violence as the serious crime it is.
4) Westchester is among the highest-taxed counties in the nation. What would you do to lower the tax burden?
One of my top priorities is to help relieve unfunded mandates that overwhelm local governments and schools in Hudson Valley. I believe that Albany has to stop passing the buck, and we need to make sure that local, county and state governments work together. I would support the state to take over the local share of Medicaid. That’s something that is long overdue.
5) Why should people vote for you?
I will always put our families first and fight as hard as I can for the 94th Assembly District.
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