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Jonathan Gordon

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Welcome back to Power and Politics. News 12 senior reporter Tara Rosenblum, along with other members of the political team spent several days in Washington DC. They caught up with lawmakers being sworn in and outlined their priorities for the new congressional session. Mike Johnson says he's optimistic he can push the GOP agenda despite the slim, slim razor type majority. Do you share that optimism? Absolutely. You know, look, the American people elected a House Republican majority, a Senate Republican majority, and President Trump. To the White House and we have a lot of work ahead of us from the affordability crisis to the border crisis to the international crises, and I think at the end of the day we're going to be able to get about the work of the American people and pass critical legislation to better improve their lives, their cost of living, secure the border, etc. It's going to be a lot of work. We have a lot of work ahead of us, especially once President Trump gets sworn in. But I'm confident that we will be able to get it across the finish line. For the first time in nearly 5 decades, there's going to be less female lawmakers in Congress, not only less women serving, but the House Republicans have tapped all men to chair their committees. Would you like to see more women in the Republican conference? Well, obviously, uh, we'd always love to see, uh, more, more women, but we've done an amazing job electing quality women over the last few years. I was part of one of the largest classes of Republican women that have come into Congress in 2021, and, uh, we're gonna continue to build on that dynamic. I think it's incredible. important uh that women have a seat at the table and yes I'd love to see, uh, more women in in leadership positions, uh, in roles as chairs uh this year that did not happen unfortunately but um we also need more women to step up and be willing to run for those positions, um, and I'm hopeful that that will happen in the future. I think there's a ton of opportunities for bipartisanship. I haven't read that op ed yet, but I definitely agree with the principle that we should stop thinking about this place in terms of Democrats and Republicans and start thinking about it in terms of what's a good idea and does it help my district and so with the incoming Trump administration. I think there's a lot of opportunities where I'll be able to work with them on things like securing the border, uh, if they were serious about cutting taxes for the middle class during the campaign ending the tax on uh tipped wages, for example, uh, cutting taxes for seniors who are on Social Security. Uh, those are things I would want to work with the administration on. Uh, the incoming president has talked a lot about how bad trade deals have decimated, uh, a lot of communities across this country. I believe that's right, and if he wants to renegotiate a lot of these bad trade deals, I'll be able to work with him on that. On the other hand, if he has policies that are just giving more tax cuts to billionaires to and to corporation shipping jobs overseas, I'm gonna oppose that. What are your top legislative priorities that you think will most impact us back at home in New York? Look, uh, for 2025, the focus is largely going to be on the tax bill. So we need to insult to bring tax relief to homeowners, property owners in New York, uh, we need to expand the child tax credit so that we're providing a basic income to the most vulnerable New Yorkers, the most vulnerable Americans. Uh, I have legislation that would establish safety standards for the manufacturing of lithium ion batteries because poorly manufactured lithium ion batteries have been the leading cause of fires in New York City, so I wanna deliver a win on fire safety, so I think reducing poverty, bringing tax relief to homeowners. And fire safety are gonna be. Among my highest priorities. Talk to me about um some of your legislative priorities and uh what you think will most impact us back at home in the 6 I think a lot of things that we we heard during the campaign uh affordability in general, affordable housing certainly as a as a very specific area what we've done in the county uh was significant working with the state, but the federal role is, is, is even more significant than that. Environmental priorities, uh, Long Island Sound, the Hudson River, both part of this district's area, and that's important. Uh, we deal with the infrastructure flooding and as much as a county and a town and a state can contribute to fixing that problem, the federal involvement is significant. We have a major project in Mount Momar that's been around for 15 years that hasn't been, hasn't come to fruition. The county put in its 17 million. The state's ponied up and now the feds have to, so those that becomes a priority. In more local politics and a first on 12, longtime White Plains Mayor Tom Roach is seeking a new political opportunity. Roach, who has served as the mayor since being named in an acting role in 2011, announced he's running for Westchester County clerk. Fellow Democrat and longtime county clerk Tim Tim Ione announced he would not seek reelection. Roach is hoping to take his experience to a higher office. I got into this um as a council member all those years ago to serve the community, and I felt it was a great honor and a privilege to do so. And I, I see an opportunity here now where the experience I have gained as an attorney and as, as a mayor. Running a pretty big operation have prepared me to step into the big shoes of somebody like Tim Ione. Current White Plain City councilman Justin Brash formally announced his campaign for mayor this weekend. A former councilwoman Nadine Hunt Robinson told News 12 she's also in the running for the position. After the break, Westchester County has a new leader. Service is not just a responsibility, it's a calling. Those early lessons of integrity, hard work, and compassion are the very principles that have guided me throughout my life and career in the private and public sector. Hear from now County Executive Ken Jenkins after he was appointed to the role this week. We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to Power and Politics. Ken Jenkins has made history as Westchester's first ever black county executive. Earlier this week, he was sworn in as Westchester's 10th county executive after being appointed by the board of legislators. He served as the deputy under former county executive George Latimer since the beginning of 2018. As you know, Latimer resigned from the seat at the end of last year to take his seat as the congressman for New York's 16th congressional district. Jenkins called his appointment an honor. I am proud of the results we've delivered over this past 7 years whether it's lowering taxes, protecting a woman's reproductive rights, supporting our veterans with tax breaks, building affordable housing, keeping our crime rates down, and investing in infrastructure, parks and open space to preserve our environment for future generations. I know we all stand with middle class families because their struggles and aspirations are the ones I know personally and that's the path I was raised on. I know I've come a long way from my parents' home in the Bronx, right? I've seen the heights of a career in telecommunications and technology and as was mentioned, holding key roles in different companies including Accenture, Apple, New York Telephone, and SR Technologies. I've been a small business owner, um, for ERHM Realty with my partner Nancy LeBron Schwartz, and I've served on so many boards and commissions that I try not to keep count of them. But Graceton Foundation, the United Way, um, to name a few, Westchester County District Attorney's Community Advisory Board, um, started the Westchester Crime Stoppers, um, and the Community Planning Council of Yonkers. I, you know, I've served as the president of the Yonkers branch of the NACP as well as the president of the Yonkers Community Action Program, and I've even been a TV commentator. But at the end of the day I'm just the son of public servants. Yo, Mel and Lorraine taught me well. I'm a proud husband and father, a technology junkie, a sports fan who never roots against a New York team because I'm really smart. My door is always open. The board set a special election for February 11th. The winner of that race will serve out the remainder of Vladimir's term, which ends this year. Additional elections could take place in June if there's a primary and in November for a new full 4 year term. Currently Jenkins is the only person who has announced his intention to run for this seat. Once again, I'm Jonathan Gordon, and this is Power and Politics on News 12, where local elections lead to national change. More news, weather and your hyperlocal headlines are coming up after the break.

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We also take a look at News 12's trip to D.C. as newly sworn-in congress members outlined their priorities for the year, Ken Jenkins is sworn in as Westchester county executive and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach is seeking a new office.

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We also take a look at News 12's trip to D.C. as newly sworn-in congress members outlined their priorities for the year, Ken Jenkins is sworn in as Westchester county executive and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach is seeking a new office.

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