Mark Jaffe Running For 89th Assembly District

Mark Jaffe has announced the he will seek the nomination for the 89th New York State Assembly seat this November.

We may not have even reached the summer months yet, but the political wheels for this November's elections are already spinning.

Jaffe, a resident of West Harrison, who declined the Democratic nomination for this February's special election for the 89th District seat, has announced that he will run for that very same position this fall. Robert Castelli currently holds the seat after winning the special election in February over Westchester County Legislator Peter Harckham. 

When Jaffe declined the nomination he voiced his support for Harckham, who was favored in the election and had just been re-elected for the second time in the county legislature.

"At that point in time, it wasn't my time to run," said Jaffe. "Looking at the political landscape, and the importance of what's happening in Albany, we are the perfect candidate to take it."

Jaffe is the current president of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, he said he plans to run on a platform of reform, education, health and safety, the environment and economic development.

"I'm a popular candidate, I've proven that in Harrison over the years and now it's my turn to help in Albany and identify wasteful programs and carry new legislation that will help all the taxpayers," said Jaffe.

Jaffe said that he has already raised $30,000 for his campaign and has received pledges for an additional $20,000. He hopes to have a full $50,000 raised before the Democratic Committee meetings in May.

The West Harrison resident said that he envisions himself as a good candidate to represent his hometown, as well as surrounding areas, at the state level.

"Harrison's favorite son, that term was used by the Harrison Democratic Committee at the convention when I was nominated," said Jaffe. "I'm a popular candidate in Harrison and anybody that has been to a town board meeting or to a civic event in Harrison knows that Jaffe makes sense, now more than ever."

The 89th Assembly District consists of most of White Plains, all of Harrison, New Castle, North Castle, Pound Ridge, Lewisboro, Bedford and Mount Kisco. 

This November's election will represent a return to normalcy after February's special election, which Jaffe says will provide both parties the opportunity to share their views with voters.

"We didn't have time to have a prolonged debate during the special election," said Jaffe. "I think the people will be better off, they won't be victimized."

Another issue Jaffe hopes to fix is the delayed budget decisions that have created monetary shortfalls to programs all over the state. He, like current Assembyman Castelli, said that the process needs to be changed.

Castelli said Thursday that he is frustrated with this year's budget and hopes that conference committees come together and work to finalize the budget that is already nearly three weeks late.

"We should be able to comply with the same standard that we set for everybody else," said Castelli. "Not doing so is irresponsible on our part and it angers the public, as it should."

Jaffe agrees, saying that he intends to address the issue right after the election.

"What we need to do when I get up there in November is to start planning for the budget months in advance," said Jaffe. "This last minute posturing is a detriment to the taxpayers and the citizens."