Democrat Skoufis announces bid for retiring Larkin seat
HIGHLAND MILLS, N.Y. » Democrat James Skoufis ended all speculation today by announcing he will run for the State Senate post being vacated by the retiring William Larkin.
The 39th Senate District includes central and eastern Orange County, the northern tip of Rockland County, and the Ulster County towns of Plattekill and Marlborough.
“I have treated everyone and every community equally; no preferential treatment,” Skoufis said.
“We can’t afford to turn back,” he added, while making his announcement.
He told supporters he will continue to stand up to the insurance industry, will “kick to the curb the state’s pay-to-play economic development team” and will support efforts to allow adults who were sexually abused as children to sue their alleged abusers.
Skoufis said the City of Newburgh has been treated as “an outcast” in the state for years, something he will fight against “so that Newburgh can thrive once more.”
By running for the Senate, he will be giving up his Assembly seat in January whether he wins or loses the Senate race.
Two Republicans have announced for the GOP nod for the 39th Senate District, Thomas Basile, a Stony Point town councilman, and Michael Anagnostakis, and Orange County legislator from the Town of Newburgh. Basile has endorsement of Larkin and the Orange County GOP Committee.
Skoufis said Anagnostakis is an honorable member of the Orange County Legislature while Basile has been a political operative for years.