Skoufis Running, Martucci Withdraws

State Senator James Skoufis released the following statement regarding his decision to run for the New York State Senate:

“With the release of finalized State Senate maps that aggressively carved up our existing district, my family, team, and I found ourselves with an incredibly difficult decision to make over the past two weeks. We considered every available option to determine how best to continue serving the people of the Hudson Valley, and I am grateful to the many colleagues and partners who reached out to offer their perspectives and encouraging words.

“Over the past ten years, I’ve dedicated my professional life to representing the needs, concerns, and hopes of local communities in Albany. As an Assemblyman, and now as a two-term Senator, I’ve gone to bat for Orange County residents, in particular, time and time again. Be it fighting against moneyed corporate interests, repeatedly voting against new taxes, standing up to my own party to address flaws within bail reform, helping to orchestrate the largest middle-class tax cuts in more than 70 years, securing historic funding for our infrastructure and schools, or assisting our constituents with a variety of complex issues, my team and I have worked tirelessly to earn the trust of – and do right by – local communities.

Mike Martucci
Mike Martucci

“I’ve spent virtually all of my life in Orange County. My team has grown to know and deeply love our Orange County communities. My wife and I have been blessed to raise our daughter here. With all that in mind, some of our options would have required uprooting my family, a prospect that proved to be deeply unsettling on a personal level. Conversely, choosing not to move prior to the election would have been disrespectful to those I’d be seeking to represent.

“The newly-drawn 42nd District, which includes almost all of Orange County except Newburgh and Montgomery, represents the most suitable place to continue my service from personal and professional points of view. While it is with a heavy heart that I will no longer represent Newburgh, Montgomery, North Rockland or southern Ulster County, I am ready and raring to continue fighting for Orange County….”

State Senator Mike Martucci responded to Skoufis statement stating, “I’ve enjoyed a good relationship with Senator Skoufis over the years, and I consider him a friend. We find ourselves in this position because of the wrangling of Albany insiders and decisions made beyond our control. I plan to continue to serve my constituents in Orange County moving forward. That has not changed.”

However, late Tuesday afternoon, Martucci announced he would not be seeking re-election.

“Stepping away from this race is a very difficult decision for me because it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve communities across four counties, and I believe that my team and I have done tremendous work in just two years in office…” Martucci stated.

“I will continue to work as hard as always, right until the last day of my term, to do everything I can to assist my constituents and further the causes we all care about. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your support,” Martucci concluded.

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