On Tuesday June 1st, we welcomed Vice President Joe Biden to a sold out event in support of Congressman John Hall at the Bedford Post Inn.  The Vice President was introduced by local resident and Inn owner, Richard Gere.  According, to Roslyn Stone-Pollock, chairperson of the Pound Ridge Democratic Committee, the Vice President was “upbeat but concerned – concerned about the environment, education and healthcare.  He was clear that we need to take positive forward thinking action on all three of those fronts in order to be ready for the future. ”  Per Biden, ” There is no going back – back to old thinking and old ways of acting. We simply cannot do that.”

The event included  a broad host committee which included actor Chevy Chase, musician Stevie Van Zandt, Tom Secunda (head of Bloomberg), Richard Gere and his wife, actress Carey Lowell, and Roslyn Stone-Pollock, representing Northern Westchester Democrats.  Over $100,000 was raised for Congressman Hal’s re-election campaign. Supporters from near and far were in attendance, tributes to both Vice President Biden and Congressman Hal.  Congressman Hall is running for his third term in Congress.  Vice President Biden spoke about how quickly Congressman Hal became a well-respected member of the Congressional delegation and how highly his peers think of him.  ”He is known as being prepared and thoughtful”, said Biden.  And Biden made is clear that he was here to show his and the President’s appreciation of Congressman Hall’s unwaivering support on key issues like health care and economic recovery.

Vice President Biden served seven terms in the Senate before being tapped by President Obama for his vice-presidency.  According to Ms. Stone –  Pollock, “Mr. Biden’s yeas of experience, coupled with his thoughtful approach to our role in the world, make him an ideal partner for President Obama.”  At one point, Vice President Biden, who was supplied with teleprompters that he chose not to use,  told the group that “they” were trying to get the President to use teleprompters less and him to use them more. “But not today…” he said.

The audience, which filled the Bedford Post Inn to capacity, listened with rapt attention as the Vice President talked about the many challenges facing our country.  He talked at length about the economy and how the very worst month economically was likely January 2009, when he and President Obama were inaugurated.  That month, there were staggering job losses – beyond what either administration had forecast or could really fathom.  He told us that the new administration didn’t yet have computers when the real jobs loss numbers for that month started to come in and were likely somewhere between 750,000 and 800,000 jobs lost.  Job recovery is taking place but slower than those dramatic job losses some months ago.  He talked about the wars and how 70% of the wounded veterans returning home would have died in previous wars – but that advances in medicine have significantly impacted survival rates and at the same time, created great needs for caring for veterans.

The room was scattered with area celebraties.  Among them, former Rangers goalie, Mike Richter, was in attendance and expressed interest in some day running for Congress.

Local Democratic committees were well represented and proud to play a part in hosting such a successful event with the Vice President.<

Image via Wikipedia

Vice President Joe Biden is coming to the Bedford Post Inn to honor our Congressman John Hall! Richard Gere and Carey Lowell are hosting a luncheon on Tuesday, June 1st that promises to be a truly special event.

Seating is very limited. For additional information, contact Roslyn Stone-Pollock or call 764-5557.

The Hon. Ken Jenkins, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, sets out the Board’s agenda for 2010.

Sunday May 16th 4 to 6 PM – Details to follow or email us for more information.

Tonight the Westchester County Democratic Committee members from the 89th Assembly District overwhelmingly nominated our County Legislator Peter Harckham to run for the seat vacated by White Plains Mayor (and former Assemblyman) Adam Bradley.

The Pound Ridge Democrats are proud to support our good friend Peter all the way to Albany!

The special election to fill the seat will be held on February 9.

“Off-off Year” election?  In Bedford and Pound Ridge, these were “on-on.”  This fall was as exciting on a local level as we can remember.

The Pound Ridge Democrats are back.  They ran their best campaign in recent memory without any of the inner divisiveness and bickering that plagued past elections.  Alison Boak and Andrew Brodnick made excellent showings and Roslyn Stone Pollock showed leadership skills as a committee chair.

Only one candidate, Pound Ridge Dem Alison Boak said that party affiliation does make a difference.  ”I do think it does matter what lines you run on and what party you are because different parties have different principles and different reputations and they have agendas and visions for our country and those visions start in towns.”

Bedford Pound Ridge Record Review: What we learned this Election Year: 11/14/2009

Congratulations to the entire Pound Ridge Democratic community for engaging in an outstanding campaign.  Although we lost the election, we showed Pound Ridge that Pound Ridge Democrats are organized, hardworking and truly committed to the Democratic process.

Thank you to everyone who hosted a friend raiser, made a donation, attended a benefit, went door to door, stood at the market, emailed friends and neighbors, read our Facebook and Twitter updates  and talked about the issues.

You did a great job and laid the foundation for both future elections and the future of Pound Ridge Democrats.

If you’d like to get more involved – either by joining the committee, getting appointed to a town committee or running for office, we’d like to hear from you.  Email us, call us or stop by.  We want to hear from you

Thank you again for an outstanding effort and a job very well done.

Roslyn Stone-Pollock

Chairperson

Pound Ridge Democratic Committee

From today’s editorial….

“…we can’t help but let the words of Alison Boak resonate. A bright, accomplished strategic thinker, her experience founding an organization to combat human trafficking, which proved to be a model for the Department of Justice, brought the FBI, Homeland Security and the NYPD to the table together. No mean feat.”

“A fresh set of eyes will be an asset to the board.”

“It’s about time that Pound Ridge had a Democrat running on the Democratic Party line for town board.”

Election Day is Tuesday November 3. For more information on Alison, visit her web site.