Assemblyman George Latimer said he’s been leaning toward running for State Senate since Suzi Oppenheimer announced she wouldn’t run again this fall. After several weeks of consulting supporters, Democratic Party officials, and his family and friends, and waiting for Senate District 37 to be redrawn, Mr. Latimer threw his hat into the ring on Monday. 

 

By Robin Jovanovich

Assemblyman George Latimer said he’s been leaning toward running for State Senate since Suzi Oppenheimer announced she wouldn’t run again this fall. After several weeks of consulting supporters, Democratic Party officials, and his family and friends, and waiting for Senate District 37 to be redrawn, Mr. Latimer threw his hat into the ring on Monday. Bob Cohen, the Republican who challenged Ms. Oppenheimer in 2010, announced his candidacy soon after his former opponent made hers.

 

While Assemblyman Latimer, 58, is well known — and well liked — in the Sound Shore communities, having served on the Rye City Council for four years, the County Board of Legislators for 13 years, three as chairman, and the last seven in the Assembly — he said he’ll just be introducing himself to residents of White Plains, Eastchester, and Yonkers.

 

“A lot of people know what kind of public official I’ve been. What you see is what you get. I’m a pretty independent. When I chaired the County Legislators I was pretty much the opposite of Ken Jenkins. I’m not a doctrinaire Democrat. I voted with the Republicans a number of times,” said Mr. Latimer with a smile.

 

He plans to operate a positive campaign and run on his record. “One of my strengths is a balanced background, knowing how both business and politics operate.” He’s a marketing executive by profession.

 

While he supports Governor Cuomo’s restructuring of tax rates (“in part because money was carved out for flood remediation”), and the initiative on the Tappan Zee Bridge, he’s frustrated by the tax cap.

 

“The promise of mandate relief is still just that,” he said pointedly. “A combination of changes needs to occur. We need to redesign the way a number of systems work. Cuomo started with Medicaid and we’re saving $2 billion. We need an education redesign team, looking at tenure, special education costs, the Triborough Amendment.”

 

Right now, he’s gearing up for the campaign and the debates.

 

At press time, we heard through the political grapevine that former Rye Mayor Steve Otis, who’s been State Senator Oppenheimer’s chief counsel for over 25 years, was close to announcing his election plans. He’s likely to run for Mr. Latimer’s Assembly seat.