Patch Candidate Profile 2023: Walter For District 15 County Legislator

BRONXVILLE, NY — Besides deciding local races Nov. 7, voters in Westchester County District 15 get to choose a legislator.

Democrat Ruth Walter, 57, of Bronxville, is challenging incumbent Republican James Nolan to represent District 15.

Walter, who served as a Westchester County legislator from 2020 to 2022, is a small business owner. She has been a Bronxville court clerk, president of the Bronxville Library Board of Trustees and treasurer of the Yonkers Aquehung Democratic Women’s Club.

She is married with two children.

Campaign website: electruthwalter.com

Patch submitted questions to both candidates for District 15. Here are Walter’s responses.

Why are you seeking this office?

Westchester County is a vital, regional government that has responsibility for many aspects of our lives, from public health to parks to roads to the sewer treatment plants. As County Legislator, I will continue work on issues from reducing plastic pollution to improving the health of Westchester residents. I care about the people living in this district, in so many different communities, and I listen to their ideas and their concerns in order to be an effective representative. I humbly seek the voters' confidence to return to the Board and continue the work I began in 2020.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

In my first term (2020-2022), I voted to support a greener, cleaner, healthier Westchester. As a lifelong Democrat, my political heroes, from Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins to County Executive George Latimer, have been overwhelmingly voted into office by Westchester residents. I have experience as a small business owner, the chair of the Cybersecurity Task Force and a board member of many local civic organizations to show my deep involvement in the communities I have served and seek to serve again. By contrast, from his votes (against reproductive access, against the menthol cigarette ban and against red light cameras) to his heroes (DeSantis, Zeldin and Lawler), my opponent has a far-right perspective that doesn’t match the values of the majority of voters in this district. From his social media to his staff, he has alienated the 17,500 Democrats as well as many of the 9,000 unaffiliated voters and some of the 10,500 Republicans living in this district.

What is the single most pressing issue facing your constituents and what do you intend to do about it?

We have seen catastrophic flooding across the district from west to east. I'm calling for both green infrastructure (bioswales and native, more absorptive grasses) and grey infrastructure (retaining walls and berms). We need legislators to work with county, state and federal partners to bring money and solutions to this climate change crisis. I am supported by Sierra Club and NY League of Conservation Voters because of my work to reduce our carbon footprint, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and make our environment more resilient to damages from extreme weather events.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

Gun violence prevention is a local issue, and we need legislators ready to pass safety laws and partner with other levels of government to continue to address this nationwide epidemic. I also want to continue to work on reproductive health because of so many draconian laws being passed by Republican state legislatures around the nation. These laws will lead to an uptick in maternal deaths and fertility even for New Yorkers who may be traveling out of state. Finally, as chair of the Cybersecurity Task Force, I intend to work with federal, state and local partners to increase awareness of the digital crimes happening right now. We need public safety for the 21st century.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am proud of the work I did to bring $330,000 in funding to the district for community benefit organizations as well as COVID grants for small businesses. I also put $15 million into the County budget for Complete Streets, to address our need for safer roads. Among other innovations I brought to the district were noise cameras, which target motorists who exceed 85 decibels. They will be ticketed in increasing amounts so that the behavior will end. I am an effective team player in government and work to support my district.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Never give up.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Persistence is necessary to create lasting change. I am passionate about voter engagement, about being responsive to the needs of the district and about constituent services — making sure someone is on the other end of the phone to help people navigate the services of their local government. When I return to the Board, I will be looking for ways to improve services and help those who are living in District 15 — Yonkers, Bronxville and Eastchester — live cleaner, greener, more equitable and more prosperous lives.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity.