Meet the Candidate, James Skoufis (D-Woodbury)

99th Assembly District (Stony Point and parts of Orange County)

Stony Point residents need an Assembly representative who will be there for them, constantly attentive, in the community, and able to work alongside local elected officials to better meet their needs. I have been fortunate to meet so many Stony Point residents and I look forward to bringing my common-sense, people-first approach to the State Assembly on your behalf.

I have been a councilman in the Town of Woodbury since 2009 and in that time I have developed a reputation for putting aside politics and working with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done. In addition to helping hold down property taxes, I voted to join a lawsuit against the job-killing MTA Tax because I believe we should be encouraging small-business growth, not hindering it with burdensome and unjust taxes.

I also challenged other politicians and fought against a pay increase for town board members. When it was passed over my objection, I refused the raise and gave it back to the taxpayers. While so many hardworking men and women are struggling every day to make ends meet, I will continue fighting against any pay raises and perks for elected officials. Likewise, I strongly support raising the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour so that all New Yorkers have a chance to create a better life for themselves and their families. Nobody can do that on $7.25 an hour.

My proudest moment as a public servant, however, came in the wake of Hurricane Irene last year. A number of families – many of whom had no flood insurance – were devastated after the hurricane and lost their homes, everything in them, and in the process, their livelihoods. I led the relief efforts in Woodbury, personally bringing dinner to these families every night so they wouldn’t have to worry about putting food on the table; organized clothing and school supply drives; and put together a community fundraiser that brought in over $10,000 to help our neighbors get back on their feet. This is what public service is really about – not politics – and with your vote I will continue to bring my hands-on approach and commitment as your Assemblyman.

Last, but certainly not least, we need our Assembly representative working with local, state, national and international officials and job creators to bring in new, good paying, long lasting jobs. That’s why I frequently speak to Stony Point Supervisor Geoff Finn and look forward to helping him and the town board attract new businesses and ensure closures like the Gypsum Plant never happen again.

As the only candidate with a proven track record of attaining results and tirelessly working alongside the families and communities I represent, I look forward to continuing to meet Stony Point residents over the summer and into the fall as I ask for your support in November.

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