ON THE RECORD: The State Senate Race: Latimer v. Dillon

In separate interviews, we met at length with State Senator George Latimer and his opponent Joe Dillon, and subsequently attended the League of Women Voters Forum at which the two candidates answered more questions and engaged in healthy debate on a range of issues important to voters in the 37th District.

In separate interviews, we met at length with State Senator George Latimer and his opponent Joe Dillon, and subsequently attended the League of Women Voters Forum at which the two candidates answered more questions and engaged in healthy debate on a range of issues important to voters in the 37th District.

Latimer, a Democrat, is in his first term; Dillon, a Republican, is running for the first time.

Rye Record: Westchester has the highest property taxes in the country and is rated as one of the worst tax environments for businesses. How will you work to lower taxes and generate real job growth?

Dillon: We have 750,000 regulations and an onerous tax system, both of which need to be overhauled. We need to make across-the-board deductions. George voted for the MTA tax and led the repeal of it. There is a cumulative effect to all these taxes. If you create jobs, everyone wins. Most jobs are created by small businesses and it’s difficult in New York’s predatory regulatory environment. I saw Wall Street and Washington D.C. make a bipartisan effort to create jobs.

Start Up NY is a gimmick, it’s too restricted and for out of state companies coming in tax-free. We need across the board tax relief. Cuomo and Sheldon Silver aren’t wired for tax relief.

Latimer: When my opponent says he will cut taxes across the board, there are no guaranties it will lead to more jobs, growth. How can you pay for education and services if we simply cut all taxes? I haven’t accepted Albany’s way of operation, but a basic fact is that our property taxes are a result of mandated costs put down on municipalities. Our pension system is expensive, as is our commuter system. We need a series of actions, capping pension costs at 2% for one.

Start Up NY is an experiment, which I voted for in 2013. The jury is out. The concept was to convince companies that are thinking of moving their business to Texas or Tennessee to stay. It’s a lot cheaper in Texas and Tennessee Gov. Cuomo said he wanted to break the state into regions. Under Gov. Pataki, we had the Empire Zone.

 
Rye Record: Is the tax cap sustainable?

Latimer: Having put the tax cap in, its chances of renewal are high. My greatest expectation is that we would modify the tax cap exemption at the city level. Without mandate relief, we can’t offer the services residents expect under the tax cap.

Dillon: I support the tax cap but it does have to come with mandate relief. Albany has been passing mismanagement and there is a cumulative effect.

Rye Record: What’s your view on Common Core, now in its second year of implementation?

Dillon: We need to get this right as a state. An educational reform process was in place with the Board of Regents. New York scrapped it and was the first to adopt Common Core. I believe in high educational standards, but not in national standards nor in more interference from the federal government. The way this was put into place greatly upset the equilibrium. It was unfair to implement in a haphazard way. It turned our students into guinea pigs. Our top districts do okay, but the poorer ones’ scores are like those of Third World countries. I would repeal Common Core.

Latimer: I agree with the premise that our children need greater skills to face college and life, but I’ve been a critic of Common Core and continue to question it. I voted for Race to the Top bills, not Common Core bills. Race to the Top held teachers accountable. We’re going to have more kids drop out because of this mandate. We need to treat each school district uniquely. My strategy would be to set high standards, try to reach them, and prepare students to get to that standard, rather than having guys in Albany give us a plan. Common Core is another mandate with training costs and paying substitute teachers during training.

Rye Record: What will you do to stem the tide of corruption in New York?

Latimer: The Moreland Commission should not have been shut down. But that’s a Governor’s decision. We need to beef up the Board of Ethics. I’m co-sponsor of a bill on pension forfeiture. If you commit a job-related felony, you should lose your pension. I want a deterrent. I’ve called for the resignation of two Democrats under indictment.

Dillon: The first thing I’ll do, if elected, is introduce legislation calling for term limits. Ridding ourselves of entrenched politicians is a realistic way to prevent corruption. I’m also in favor of bringing back the Moreland Commission, which Gov. Cuomo appointed in 2013 and disbanded in 2014. We need to demonstrate conviction on corruption. To do that will take a new generation of problem-solvers.

Rye Record: So much of our infrastructure — roads, bridges — is in dire need of repair and rebuilding. What will you do to speed up its improvement and fund the cost?

Dillon: Infrastructure is a catalyst to investment. We can’t lose our competitive advantage. We need to find private sector investors and federal money. The Tappan Zee Bridge is the perfect example of the cavalier way in which the state addresses important infrastructure repair — without a proper funding plan. Tolls will be $14-15 to pay for it. The project had no federal funding and we should use private investment through bonds.

Rye Record: New York’s Medicaid costs are the highest in the nation. How and when can they be reasonably reduced?

Dillon: We must start transferring Medicaid costs upstate. There has been no effort and we need a comprehensive one. The County is strapped.

Latimer: Medicaid is a $7 billion hit to the state. The County picks up 25%. Who knew that a nursing home would cost $10,000 per month? The state has to pick up more.

Rye Record: What experiences have prepared you for the job of State Senator?

Latimer: My sales background. I’m not a lawyer unlike many politicians. I’m an advocate and will advocate for priorities.

Dillon: I worked for two large corporations in Washington, D.C. When I was on Wall Street, I saw the results of bipartisanship and understand how it can work. My role at AIG focused on bolstering U.S. leadership. I saw a constructive relationship between business and government.

Rye Record: What differentiates you from your opponent?

Dillon: He’s a 30-year career politician who has voted 97 percent of the time with the party faction. I would have voted for Tier 6, which would have resulted in $100 billion of savings to NY taxpayers, and alleviated pressure on the counties. I’m not a part of the political fabric. We need business people who want to serve for a finite period and accomplish things, top among them lowering taxes and reforming government. George’s record is telling. I don’t think he’s done enough to promote our interests. I’ll take on anyone who gets in the way.

Latimer: I voted for Tier 5, which was a tightening of Tier 4 and put a cap on overtime contributions. Tier 6 was a bill offered in the middle of the night. Real mandate reform was not coming from this. You can’t get that by dictat, it’s built into the Constitution. Benefits are a negotiable thing going forward. I ave a proven record of bipartisanship; I can push and lobby across the aisle. Tenure makes you different? I’m the same. This is a race between two people. Joe is Joe and George is George. Who is the better guy?

Rye Record: What was your first job?

Latimer: Paperboy for the Daily Argus in Mt. Vernon. I didn’t do it for very long. My first real paying job was as a part-time clerk in the service department at Brennan’s Cadillac in Mt. Vernon.

Dillon: Washing dishes at age 14 at Lantern’s Restaurant in the Adirondacks.

Rye Record: Where did you meet your wife?

Latimer: We were both working for Stouffer’s in White Plains. I worked in marketing, Robin was in catering. It was nine months before I asked her out.

Dillon: I was at Georgetown; she was at Trinity. I was working as a bartender and offered her a free beer.

Rye Record: What’s the book on your nightstand?

Dillon: Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton

Latimer: “Nobody Lives Forever” by John Gardner.