Ex-New Paltz school board member seeks Green Party nod to run vs. Faso
Another candidate has joined the crowded race for New York’s 19th Congressional District seat.
Steve Greenfield, a former two-term member of the New Paltz school board, announced Tuesday that he will seek the Green Party nomination to challenge Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, in the Nov. 6 election.
Greenfield described his approach to governing as “solve the problem” but without lobbyists.
“No corporate lobbyists will ever step foot in my office,” said Greenfield, 56. “They are the problem and the easiest one to solve.”
Greenfield said he is the only candidate challenging Faso who has held office and has a legislative record and also the only one not beholden to corporate donors or party bosses.
There are, in fact, two independent candidates in the 19th District race: former “Law & Order: SVU” actress Diane Neal, who lives in Hurley, and Luisa Parker, who lives in Callicoon, Sullivan County.
Seven Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination to run against Faso: Jeffrey Beals of Woodstock, David Clegg of Woodstock, Erin Collier of Cooperstown, Antonio Delgado of Rhinebeck, Brian Flynn of Elka Park, Gareth Rhodes of Kerhonkson, and Patrick Ryan of Gardiner.
A Democratic primary is scheduled for June 26. The winner will run against Faso, a first-term congressman.
The 19th District comprises all of Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Sullivan, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego counties; most of Dutchess County; parts of Rensselaer and Montgomery counties; and a small section of Broome County.
Greenfield graduated in 1982 from Columbia College, where he majored in economics with a subspeciality in the effects of military spending. He said he has made his career in music, is a volunteer firefighter and has spent the last 17 years raising his family in New Paltz. He is married and has three teenage children.