David Fried is Running for Rockland County Executive

Former Village of Spring Valley Justice David Fried announced last Sunday his intention to run for Rockland County Executive next year.

Fried made the formal announcement in his hometown of Spring Valley outside of his family’s business, Tire Warehouse and Auto Center. Earlier in the week Fried resigned from his position as justice so he could join the race.

During his speech to the crowd, Fried advocated for accountability in county government and likened the campaign process to a job interview. “I have always believed that a campaign is a job interview.  And in the course of this job interview I will work hard to earn your vote by showing you how I will achieve the change I pledge,” he said.

Fried also announced his endorsement from Democratic Congresswoman Nita Lowey. Lowey, who will now be representing all of Rockland after the new year, praised Fried’s skill set in a news release and emphasized their long history of working together on ways to improve Rockland County.

A graduate of Spring Valley High School, Fried served in the county legislature from 2003 to 2007. In 2009 Fried was elected as Spring Valley Justice. There, he oversaw a retooling of the village court geared toward giving youth offenders the opportunity to turn their lives around through programs such as the misdemeanor drug court.

Fried says that Rockland County’s fiscal crisis and what he saw as a lack of vision spurred him to join the already crowded race for county executive.

Fried joins three other official candidates, Republican County Legislator Ed Day, Democratic County Legislator Ilan Schoenburger, and Democratic Village of Suffern Mayor Dagan Lacorte in vying for the County Executive position.

The Rockland County Times was the first newspaper to speculate that Fried might be contemplating a move to enter the County Executive race.

  ed day, ilan schoenburger, rockland county, rockland county executive, scott vanderhoef