Second Democrat enters state Senate race
Red Hook businesswoman Karen Smythe hopes to run against incumbent Republican Susan Serino.
Businesswoman Karen Smythe will seek the Democratic Party nomination in the race for the 41st New York Senate District seat currently held by Republican Susan Serino.
The district comprises all of Dutchess County, except for the town of Beekman and Pawling; and the Putnam County towns of Kent, Putnam Valley and Philipstown.
Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, D-Clinton, also has also announced his intention to seek the Democrat nomination.
Smythe, of Red Hook, said elected officials in Albany are not passing legislation to help the state’s economy grow.
“I don’t think that they are passing legislation that is helping to progress communities, to create goodpaying jobs. We need more middle-class jobs that pay a living wage,” Smythe said. “We need to be providing health insurance so that people don’t have to worry about whether or not they can take their child to the doctor when they are sick.”
Dutchess County Democratic Chairwoman Elisa Sumner called Smythe “exactly who we need” in the state Senate.
“Her diverse experiences as a civic leader and business executive, along with her vast history of volunteerism and nonprofit participation, give her that unique interdisciplinary perspective sorely lacking in our career politicians and our government,” Sumner said