Weber Seeks New York Senate Seat 2022: Patch Candidate Profile

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — In 2022's general election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for state and local officials. In anticipation, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Bill Weber is running again against Elijah Rechlin-Melnick for the 38th State Senate seat, having lost narrowly to him in 2020. Re-drawn after the 2020 Census, the district no longer includes a gerrymandered sliver of Westchester County, instead adding more of northern Rockland.

Weber has the Republican and Conservative lines on the November ballot.

A CPA, Weber, 53, is the chief financial officer of a private-sector company. He lives in Montebello with his wife, Lisa Weber, assistant superintendent in the Suffern Central school district, and four children. He earned his BBA from Pace University in 1991.

Learn more on his campaign website.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am running for NYS Senate because New York State is becoming more and more unaffordable for most residents, due to high taxes and inflation, and because the crime in this state is at dangerous levels due, in part, to the many pro-criminal laws that have been passed in recent years.

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

My opponent is an ultra-progressive who is out of touch with the everyday resident of Rockland County. He is a typical get-along, go-along politician who, instead of working with our many local Republican elected officials, he instead works for, and answers to, his Democratic Party bosses in NYC and Albany.

I have a history of working with both parties to get things done. My bosses will be the residents of Rockland County and I will do everything in my power to bring the much needed resources and support back to our residents here. I will partner with all elected officials here in Rockland, regardless of party affiliation, to get things done.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

Senator Reichlin-Melnick has voted to increase spending by 40 Billion Dollars over the last few years, including 600 Million Dollars for a football stadium in Buffalo, Billions of Dollars for Undocumented Immigrants for Unemployment Benefits, College Tuition, Health Services, and so on. That money should have been spent on our seniors, veterans, teachers, schools, and infrastructure.

Senator Reichlin-Melnick has passed and supported pro-criminal/anti-police legislation. He has not only refused to vote to repeal the disastrous Bail Reform Bill and HALT Act, but has gone even further with new laws that give criminals more rights and made our residents less safe.

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

The main issues that I am focused on during this election is:

Affordability. We must get inflation, taxes, and spending under control so that people and businesses can afford to stay in our state.

Crime and Public Safety. We must repeal the disastrous Bail Reform Bill, HALT Act, and some of the other pro-criminal legislation that has passed these last few years to make our streets safe again for our residents.

School Funding and Safety. We need to deliver significant property tax relief to our residents and increase monies for our schools, including a sizeable investment in school safety. Parents, teachers, school administrators, and other workers deserve to attend and work in schools that are safe. This can be accomplished by better prioritizing what is spent each year in the State Budget.

Mental Health Services. I am a proud Board Member of the Mental Health Services of Rockland. I see the lack of investment that the State makes each year in mental health services. We need to make sure we have these services available and properly funded not
only for the adults, but for our children who suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

I am a Certified Public Accountant for nearly 30 years and a Certified Financial Officer for over 20 years. I have the financial acumen, private sector experience, and and real world experience necessary to solve the issues that our state is facing.

I have also been in and around politics for many years, running for previous offices and helping other candidates get elected to office. I know how government works and will hit the ground running on day one.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Never give up our dreams and follow your instinct.

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

• Board Member for Mental Health Association of Rockland
• Board Member for the Rockland County Youth Bureau
• Cubmaster for Pack 2094, Montebello and Airmont
• Father and brother are retired NYPD Lieutenants
• Younger Brother is an active NYPD Officer
• Mother was a Registered Nurse (RN) at Nyack Hospital for over 20 years.