Incumbent Borgia Faces Challenge Again from Outhouse

Election 2019: Westchester County Board of Legislators District 9

The race for the ninth district seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators is a rematch from 2017.

Legislator Catherine Borgia, a Democrat, is seeking a fifth two-year term. Her familiar opponent is retired Westchester County Police Detective Robert Outhouse.

 

The ninth district includes Cortlandt, Peekskill, Ossining, Croton-on-Hudson and Briarcliff Manor.

 

“I am seeking re-election to continue working for the people of the 9th LD and the county,” said Borgia. “It has been an honor to work with my colleagues on legislature to serve the health, safety, and welfare of workers, families, children, seniors and all residents in Westchester.”

 

“I am running again because I know I will make a difference for my community on the county level,” Outhouse said. “In the two years under this supermajority, we have seen three tax increases, sanctuary county designation with the IPA, and 14 pieces of progressive legislation that do not make Westchester County more affordable, and in fact, makes us less safe.”

 

Borgia, 54, a former Ossining town supervisor, said in the last legislative session she was proud to sponsor and pass with bipartisan support the Earned Sick Leave and Safe Leave Laws.

 

“Earned Sick Leave allows workers to accrue up to five days of sick time over the course of a year (paid time in companies five or more employees) so that they are not forced to choose between their health and a job,” she explained. “Safe Leave allows paid leave for victims of domestic violence and human trafficking to take time off from work for court dates or other legal matters, or to move away from an abuser.”

 

She said the county board has reduced the backlog of undone, necessary infrastructure projects and moved away from borrowing for ongoing expenses.

 

“We have begun to restore the ‘rainy day’ fund balance that was used to balance the budget,” Borgia said. “I am currently working on two projects to benefit Westchester residents. The first is the creation of a program that would allow county businesses to offer discounts or promotions to Westchester county ID card holders. And I continue to prioritize working with the court system to create a Veterans’ Court in Westchester to ensure that our veterans who get into trouble get the resources they need to get back into a better course.”

 

A lifelong Montrose resident, Outhouse, 55, has been as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in the district for more than 40 years and served Westchester for 23 years as a detective. He believes in community involvement and will work to encourage volunteerism, neighbors helping neighbors. He and his wife, Angela, have six children.

 

“I am a strong advocate for public safety and have extensive experience in that area. I have lobbied for legislation in the fire service and been successful. I have great mediation skills and the ability to bring different sides and points of view together to achieve positive resolutions,” Outhouse said. “Beyond this I am responsive to people when they contact me. I always return phone calls or emails. If I don’t have the answers, I will find them, or point them in the right direction, if it’s out of my scope.”

 

Outhouse criticized Borgia for being the sponsor and architect of the Immigration Protection Act which “I adamantly opposed as it is written. As it is written, it jeopardizes our children’s safety and even our own safety.”

 

He also contended Borgia was “not representing or advocating for the needs of this district. She is not advocating for her constituents, some of whom are barely making ends meet. It is crucial that our elected officials respond to constituent’s concerns whether electronically or in person, even when the answer is just ‘I will look into it and get back to you,’ and then get back to them.”

 

Both candidates agreed the looming closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plants in Buchanan was the most important issue facing the district.

 

“Indian Point decommissioning poses an immediate economic concern and a ongoing environmental concerns,” Borgia said. “Working with my colleagues at the local, state, and federal levels, I will continue to advocate for the municipality, school district, and county to make sure we have resources to mitigate both impacts and to keep the long-term safety of Westchester residents in the forefront.”

 

“In reference to the Indian Point closure, I will advocate for funds and legislation giving authority to the local decommissioning committee CAP to monitor every aspect regarding public safety to our first responders and community members,” Outhouse said. “I will advocate that the jobs supplied by Entergy to the County, OEM, etc., need to be maintained as long as we have nuclear waste on that site. I will advocate for proper use and oversight of the decommissioning fund; and hold the Federal Government responsible for taking care of their nuclear waste in our backyard. I will advocate disclosure to community members and first responders on the types of incidents that could occur during decommissioning and how to deal with them. We need a plan. We need to maintain the County Emergency Evacuation Plan in full force. I plan to be a fierce leader and strong advocate for our community’s safety, something that has been absent for two years.”