The Rockland and Westchester Republican Committees joined forces Tuesday night to nominate a single candidate for the 17th Congressional District. of Port Chester received the unanimous support of the several hundred committee members at the convention at Clarkstown Town Hall in New City. Carvin, who is the Rye Town supervisor, will challenge Democratic Incumbent U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey of Harrison in November.
Rockland County Republican Anthony Melé, who recently withdrew his candidacy and endorsed Carvin, nominated him at the convention, saying.
“I urge this committee to unite behind Joe. And together we will lead the Republican party to victories not seen since the days of Ronald Wilson Reagan,” said Melé of Chestnut Ridge.
Anther speaker described Carvin as a big thinker, tenacious, and fiscally conservative.
In accepting the party’s nomination, Carvin said he will work 24/7 to win the election and that it would be won by the power of ideas. He spoke about his achievements as Rye Town supervisor in reducing taxes and securing a state grant to study the elimination of the town. Carvin said a fundamental restructuring of government is needed to keep the country from being a second rate power.
“But if you want to create a future, a rise in expectations for our children, a future of hope and you want the United States to resume its leadership position in the world then you need to send a reform minded republican to Washington,” he said.
Carvin stated the federal government’s spending increases yearly and the national debt has grown to an amount that equals about $250,000 per person. Carvin, a hedge fund manager who speaks five languages and has worked on five continents, said entitlement, tax codes and healthcare need to be restructured.
“I’m going to run a campaign that aims to make you proud to be a New York; proud to be a republican, and proud to be an American,” Carvin told the audience. “But most of all I’m going to run a campaign that aims to win so we can turn our country around.”
Vincent Reda, Rockland County Republican Committee chair said he was thrilled to see the party totally united behind one candidate and said that support would be needed because Democrats outnumber Republicans in both counties.
Westchester Republican Committee Chair Doug Colety said, “This is a once in a generation opportunity to take back this seat.”
The recently redrawn 17th district includes all of Rockland County and Mount Kisco, Yorktown, Cortland Peekskill and most of New Castle in Westchester County. With the court-approved changes of the newly drawn districts, Rockland, which had been split between Lowey’s 17th district and Engle’s 18th district, becomes the 17th district. Lowey has served in office for 24 years.
One of the first speakers at the convention was Peter Tripodi, an Ossining town councilman. Tripodi, who was named as a possible challenger to Democratic State Senator David Carlucci, spoke about being the only republican on his town board and the importance of the upcoming election. The 38th District, which now includes Rockland and Orange counties, has been redrawn and Ossining has been added.
“We are at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history,” he said.
