Patch Candidate Profile: Davidson Runs For Rockland Legislature

NYACK, NY — Election season 2023 election is here and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Beth Davidson is running for Rockland County Legislature in District 10. Davidson's opponent is Ray Francis.

Longtime Legislator Harriet Cornell is not seeking re-election, one of five lawmakers who are stepping down at the end of the year. The others are Chris Carey, R-Clarkstown; Michael Grant, D-Haverstraw; Laurie Santulli, Clarkstown independent; and Vincent Tyer, R-Orangetown.

Davidson, 50, is a freelance writer and political consultant. Clients include nonprofits, political candidates and political organizations such as the MS Society and EMILY’s List. She served on the Nyack Board of Education 2017-23. She graduated from theUniversity of Michigan and lives in Nyack with her husband and two children.

Family: Husband Jeff, two children Josie and Hugo

Campaign website: www.bethdavidson4rockland.com

Patch: Why are you seeking this office?

Davidson: Rockland faces serious challenges, from an affordability crisis to the need for a bold Climate Action Plan, strong policies to stem inappropriate and unsafe development, and more. Comprising the Village of Nyack, Central Nyack and pieces of New City, Valley Cottage, West Nyack and Bardonia, Legislative District 10 is one of the county’s most diverse and dynamic — and I believe as a longtime community advocate and two-term trustee for Nyack Public Schools I am uniquely qualified to bring people together to solve the problems we face.

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

Davidson: Firstly, there are only 3 women out of 17 members of the County Legislature, one being Hon. Harriet Cornell, who is retiring from District 10 after an extraordinary four decades of service. I think my perspective as a mom and community advocate — I have served on the boards of Leadership Rockland, the Soar Mentorship program at Nyack Middle School and the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre—will empower me to engage all stakeholders to craft budgets policies that serve our communities efficiently and effectively. I’m also endorsed by various organizations promoting reproductive freedom and gun safety, including Eleanor’s Legacy, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Votes, and Vote Pro-Choice. I’m a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense candidate and one of only 10 candidates in all of NY State endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund. I’m also endorsed by the Sierra Club for my experience championing environmental issues and my plans to address the climate crisis here in Rockland.

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

Davidson: The number-one issue I hear as I knock doors is affordability. How do we help ensure our parents can live out their retirements here in dignity, and that our children can raise their own families here? As a school board member I helped pass school tax relief for seniors and volunteer first responders, and as a county legislator I will actively look for ways to make Rockland more affordable, starting with pressing our state legislators to eliminate the MTA payroll tax for Rockland, as we lack reliable transit into NYC.

Patch: How would you address the affordable housing issue in the community?

Davidson: To solve both the county's housing and overall affordability crises, we need a diversity of housing. We need quality, safe and accessible housing for our lower-income neighbors. We need affordable rentals for young people. We need affordable single-family homes for first-time homebuyers, as well as for teachers, first responders and other hardworking Rocklanders. And any new housing should be safe, environmentally sustainable and, ideally, linked to transit. We need bold thinking that aims to keep young and old people alike in Rockland, not only living in dignity but thriving. We can also try to curb costs of homeownership as I did on the school board, passing school tax relief for seniors and volunteer first responders.

Patch: How would you protect the drinking water in the community?

Davidson: I would advocate directly with New York State and the Environmental Protection Agency to strengthen regulations against PFAS “forever chemicals” in our drinking water. I would push for water conservation rates during droughts and summer months along with greater public education around water conservation. Development—particularly in a county such as Rockland where the water supply is already limited, and Lake DeForest subject to drought, algae blooms and more—impacts water quality and availability. Development in Clarkstown and Ramapo will continue to affect our water supply. In addition to town and village governments, Veolia needs to be engaged as a partner when looking at large developments, whether there will truly be enough water to serve those communities. Areas of Central Nyack and Spring Valley already suffer low water pressure—in the latter, to deadly results as evidenced in the Evergreen Court Fire. Growth that disproportionately hurts communities of color and endangers volunteer first responders, I would argue, is not sustainable. I will be a strong voice in favor of conservation and improved infrastructure on the legislature.

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

Davidson: Passing a county law requiring every gun in the county be sold with a written warning that access to a weapon or firearm in the home significantly increases the risk of suicide, homicide, death during domestic disputes and unintentional deaths to children, household members and others. Passing a county law creating a buffer zone around reproductive health facilities to protect patients from intimidation or harassment. I also plan to address the delivery of mental health services and the need for green space, particularly in the hamlet of Central Nyack. Improving the delivery of mental health services throughout the county.

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

Davidson: I spearheaded Nyack Public Schools’ equity policy; sexual harassment policy; and homework policy. I brought Sandy Hook Promise’s gun violence prevention programs into our schools and helped pass 6 tax cap-compliant budgets. I leveraged relationships with the county’s nonprofits to create commonsense, sustainable policies to best serve our students, families, and taxpayers. I helped launch Leadership Rockland’s inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee as it is one more way we can leverage Rockland’s diversity as our county's superpower. I was part of an all-volunteer board that brought the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre, a cultural gem in our community, through the pandemic and stronger than ever.

Patch: What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Davidson: “90% of life is showing up.” - My parents, Mark and Jame Davidson

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

Davidson: While I am a proud and active Democrat, I believe most of the issues we face should not be partisan. We all want clean air and water. We all want a Rockland County in which both our children and parents can afford to live. We all want safe schools and streets. While I stand up for what I believe is right, even when it’s hard—especially when it’s hard—I will work with anyone who has a good idea to address our challenges and build on our strengths. If we as a county make clear that Rockland is a place where your rights are protected, your dignity is respected, and opportunities are bounded only by the limits of our imagination, businesses will want to come here, young families will continue to move here, and we will all thrive. I would be so humbled to work collaboratively with all our neighbors to Build a Better Rockland!