Senator Larkin campaigns in Stony Point

BY KATHY KAHN 

With six more weeks until Election Day, many up for re-election have been out and about, including Sen. Bill Larkin (R/C-Cornwall-on-Hudson-39^th District), who was the main event at Stony Point Councilman Tom Basile’s house on September 28.

Larkin welcomed several of his longtime supporters and Republican allies, including NYS Chair of the Republican Party Ed Cox and both supervisors of the towns which he represents, Stony Point and Haverstraw.

Basile’s open house was filled with Larkin supporters, who nodded in agreement with Larkin’s assessment of today’s national atmosphere: “America’s values have eroded and confidence in our government is at an all-time low. Ninety percent of New Yorkers feel the state’s elected officials are corrupt.”

Larkin’s room was filled with Trump supporters, including the senator himself, who said America is ready for a change.

GOP Chair Cox noted, “He’s not as polished as a politician, but then again, he’s not a politician. He is saying what people are feeling…we are hoping all will come out to support him.”

Stony Point Supervisor Jim Monaghan thanked Larkin for securing a $250,000 grant to refurbish the town’s historic town hall. “It’s a beautiful building,” said Monaghan, “and it typifies what ‘Main Street’ in a small town looks like. We’re very happy we’re going to be able to refurbish the building, thanks to his support in Albany.”

Basile has worked in several levels of government including in Washington, DC during the Bush administration, a stint as executive director of the NY GOP on down to the town level. Basile is now deputy supervisor/councilman for the town of Stony Point. He and his wife, Karen, made sure that guests had a chance to spend time with Senator Larkin and reaffirm their support for the GOP nominee for president at the meet and greet fundraiser.

“I love Rockland because people here don’t tell you want they want,” said Larkin. “They tell you what is needed. There’s a big difference, and it would be nice to see more of the state’s districts  putting needs, not wish lists, at the top of their agendas.”

New York is one of the highest taxed states in the union and considered by most researchers to be among the least business-friendly states. Rockland County’s taxes are among the highest in the state. Basile has made affordability and tax relief the centerpiece issue of his political career and endorsed Senator Larkin as the candidate who will be the better steward of the peoples’ treasury.

Larkin faces Democrat Christopher Eachus, an Orange County legislator, in the November election.

CORRECTION: The original version of this article attributed the following quote to Senator Larkin: “He’s not as polished as a politician, but then again, he’s not a politician. He is saying what people are feeling…we are hoping all will come out to support him.” As the current version indicates, this line was actually delivered by Chairman Cox.