Peter Harckham for State Assembly

Hon. Peter Harckham was first elected in November 2007 to the Westchester County Board of Legislators, representing the 2nd Legislative District which comprises all of northeast Westchester. In his first term he served on six committees, including Budget & Appropriations, Legislation, Government Operations, Environment & Energy, Public Safety & Security and the Special Committee on Internal Controls and Procedures. He also was a member of the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs, the Subcommittee on Women & Minority Owned Businesses, as well as the Stimulus Task Force.

Pete has focused extensive energy into protecting the fragile drinking water supplies that serve both the people of Westchester and New York City. He is the founding Chair of the Board of Legislators Septic Subcommittee of the Committee on Environment and Energy. The Septic Subcommittee is comprised of stakeholders in the formulation of septic policy. He successfully led critical negotiations between the County, municipalities, New York State and New York City regarding formulation and implementation of new MS4 Septic requirements. He also successfully led the effort to release $10M of NYC DEP funds to the Town of North Salem for badly needed sewers for Peach Lake to replace failing septic systems that were threatening the Westchester and NYC drinking supply. He also helped to pass groundbreaking phosphorus reduction legislation to further protect our drinking water.

Pete also introduced and passed key legislation that will toughen the penalties for DWI in Westchester and will reduce the burden to taxpayers for the cost of these offenders. He has been at the center of legislative efforts to improve water and air quality, advance human rights and fair housing law as well as to protect young people from alcohol and drug abuse. He is a recognized countywide as a leading advocate for the creation of affordable housing.

In November 2009, an election that was not kind to Democrats, Pete was reelected to a second term on the County Board and increased his vote totals from 2007 by over 15%.

Before being elected to the BOL, Pete served as President of A-HOME (2004 to 2007), a not for profit housing corporation that builds affordable housing in northern Westchester and he was a vocal advocate for the creation of affordable housing. He reached across party lines to work with local, county and state officials to secure funding for affordable housing, as well as to raise awareness and build bipartisan, grass roots support for affordable housing in Westchester. During Pete’s tenure, A-Home’s fundraising dramatically increased, management systems improved and corporate communications professionalized. New affordable units were constructed in Croton Falls, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, and most recently, twelve units of senior housing have been developed for the Town of Pound Ridge. He also helped to secure the donation of a four-acre parcel of land for affordable housing in Lewisboro. In the legislature, Pete has continued to be a leading advocate for the creation of affordable housing countywide.

From 1992 to 2005, Pete served as Vice Chair of the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, a San Francisco-based foundation that supports the sustainable management of natural resources, the reduction of harmful toxins from the environment, and promotes arts and environmental education to underserved communities.

Pete has been a communications professional since 1983 when he started his career on Madison Avenue and worked for ten years for major advertising agencies. Today he is President of Harckham Media Group, LLC, a strategic partnership of advertising, communications and production professionals. With his wife Janet, a member of the Katonah-Lewisboro School Board, he owns and manages K&E Farms, a small horse farm in Katonah, NY. Together, Pete and Janet are ardent fundraisers and contributors to several area non-profit organizations, including donating conservation easements from their farm to the Westchester Land Trust. They have also converted their residence and farm to solar power.

In addition to his professional work, Pete serves on the President’s Council for the Northern Westchester Hospital, is a board member for the United Way of Westchester Putnam, the Junior League of Northern Westchester Community Advisory Council, the ALOFT Livable Communities Council, volunteers with the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, and is a girls soccer coach for the Lewisboro Soccer Club.

Pete has been a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, having grown up in New City in Rockland County. Pete and Janet moved to Katonah in 1991. Together they have two daughters, Emma aged 14 & Kate aged 11 who attend the Katonah-Lewisboro public schools.

Hon. Peter Harckham, 2nd L.D., was first elected in November 2007 to represent northeast Westchester on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Harckham has worked full time in his position becoming recognized countywide as a leader on water quality protection issues, known as an independent voice for fiscal discipline and committed to protecting and empowering our families. He also enjoys a positive reputation as a bipartisan, consensus builder. In November 2009, an election that was not kind to Democrats, Pete was reelected to a second term on the County Board and increased his vote totals from 2007 by over 15%.

Finance & Government Reform

• 2009/2010 Budgets – Closed $46M and $121M budget shortfalls in the face of a 30% increase in the demand for County safety net services, made important investments in foreclosure and eviction prevention while holding the County tax levy increases low.
• Successfully reduced BOL budget 5% in 09 and another 6% in 10.
• Successfully cosponsored legislation granting property tax breaks to volunteer emergency first-responders and veterans.
• Successfully removed Playland from property tax levy support.
• Successfully opposed proposed stipend increases for legislative leadership.
• Successfully opposed pay increases for top County management.
• Coauthored report tightening BOL spending, procurement and personnel policies.
• Voted against increases in filing fees for the County Clerk’s office.
• Served on BOL Stimulus Task Force and Subcommittee on Women and Minority Owned Businesses.

Water Quality Protection

• Founding Chair – Septic Subcommittee
• Steered nearly $11M in EOH water quality protection funds to northeast Westchester, including $10M for creation of Peach Lake sewer district.
• Successfully negotiated comprehensive septic management plan with State DEC and northern Westchester municipalities to protect water quality while saving towns hundreds of thousands of dollars in administration costs.
• Created first countywide septic database.
• Successfully passed EOH legislation aiding water quality improvement projects in Somers and Bedford.
• Successfully passed groundbreaking legislation restricting phosphorus in lawn fertilizer.
• Successfully passed $235M bond to protect Long Island Sound from nitrogen discharged by County sewer treatment plants.

Protecting Our Families

• Successfully sponsored legislation to toughen DWI penalties in Westchester.
• Successfully passed Social Host legislation to protect underaged teens from parties where alcohol is served.
• Successfully passed restrictions on the sale of cough medicine containing DXM to minors.
• Successfully sponsored emergency appropriation for mortgage foreclosure prevention saving over 250 Westchester families from foreclosure.
• Successfully appropriated $150,000 in Invest in Kids funding for Boys & Girls Club of northern Westchester for at-risk youth.
• Successfully cosponsored legislation granting property tax breaks to volunteer emergency first-responders and veterans.
• Helped to create 12 units of affordable senior housing in Pound Ridge and secured millions of dollars for affordable housing countywide.

Environmental Initiatives

• Successfully appropriated funding for aircraft noise monitor for Pound Ridge to monitor possible impacts of FAA airspace redesign over northern Westchester.
• Successfully passed countywide anti-idling ordinance to improve air quality.
• Advancing bicycle friendly mass transit initiatives in Westchester including bike racks on buses and bicycle lockers at mass transit hubs.
• Advancing countywide energy efficiency and alternative energy initiatives in Energy Subcommittee and Stimulus Task Force.
• Successfully bonded the purchase of electric service vehicles for Westchester County Airport.
• Successfully bonded purchase of new, clean hybrid buses and diesel filter retrofits for the Bee Line bus system.

Local Infrastructure

• Successfully passed $2.2M in bonds for road repair in Mount Kisco.
• Successfully passed $4.3M in bonds for bridge repair in North Salem.
• Successfully passed $700,000 in bonds for road repair in Bedford.
• Successfully passed $10M in EOH funds for North Salem sewers
• Successfully secured funding for aircraft noise monitoring sensor in Pound Ridge.

Organizations

• United Way of Westchester-Putnam – Board of Trustees
• Northern Westchester Hospital – President’s Council
• Junior League of Northern Westchester – Community Advisory Council
• ALOFT – Livable Community Council
• A-HOME – former President, Board of Trustees
• Lewisboro Soccer Club – volunteer coach
• Wolf Conservation Center - volunteer


		Biography Accomplishments Biography & Accomplishments Hon. Peter Harckham was first elected in November 2007 to the Westchester County Board of Legislators, representing the 2nd Legislative District which comprises all of northeast Westchester. In his first term he served on six committees, including Budget & Appropriations, Legislation, Government Operations, Environment & Energy, Public Safety & Security and the Special Committee on Internal Controls and Procedures. He also was a member of the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs, the Subcommittee on Women & Minority Owned Businesses, as well as the Stimulus Task Force. Pete has focused extensive energy into protecting the fragile drinking water supplies that serve both the people of Westchester and New York City. He is the founding Chair of the Board of Legislators Septic Subcommittee of the Committee on Environment and Energy. The Septic Subcommittee is comprised of stakeholders in the formulation of septic policy. He successfully led critical negotiations between the County, municipalities, New York State and New York City regarding formulation and implementation of new MS4 Septic requirements. He also successfully led the effort to release $10M of NYC DEP funds to the Town of North Salem for badly needed sewers for Peach Lake to replace failing septic systems that were threatening the Westchester and NYC drinking supply. He also helped to pass groundbreaking phosphorus reduction legislation to further protect our drinking water. Pete also introduced and passed key legislation that will toughen the penalties for DWI in Westchester and will reduce the burden to taxpayers for the cost of these offenders. He has been at the center of legislative efforts to improve water and air quality, advance human rights and fair housing law as well as to protect young people from alcohol and drug abuse. He is a recognized countywide as a leading advocate for the creation of affordable housing. In November 2009, an election that was not kind to Democrats, Pete was reelected to a second term on the County Board and increased his vote totals from 2007 by over 15%. Before being elected to the BOL, Pete served as President of A-HOME (2004 to 2007), a not for profit housing corporation that builds affordable housing in northern Westchester and he was a vocal advocate for the creation of affordable housing. He reached across party lines to work with local, county and state officials to secure funding for affordable housing, as well as to raise awareness and build bipartisan, grass roots support for affordable housing in Westchester. During Pete’s tenure, A-Home’s fundraising dramatically increased, management systems improved and corporate communications professionalized. New affordable units were constructed in Croton Falls, Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, and most recently, twelve units of senior housing have been developed for the Town of Pound Ridge. He also helped to secure the donation of a four-acre parcel of land for affordable housing in Lewisboro. In the legislature, Pete has continued to be a leading advocate for the creation of affordable housing countywide. From 1992 to 2005, Pete served as Vice Chair of the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation, a San Francisco-based foundation that supports the sustainable management of natural resources, the reduction of harmful toxins from the environment, and promotes arts and environmental education to underserved communities. Pete has been a communications professional since 1983 when he started his career on Madison Avenue and worked for ten years for major advertising agencies. Today he is President of Harckham Media Group, LLC, a strategic partnership of advertising, communications and production professionals. With his wife Janet, a member of the Katonah-Lewisboro School Board, he owns and manages K&E Farms, a small horse farm in Katonah, NY. Together, Pete and Janet are ardent fundraisers and contributors to several area non-profit organizations, including donating conservation easements from their farm to the Westchester Land Trust. They have also converted their residence and farm to solar power. In addition to his professional work, Pete serves on the President’s Council for the Northern Westchester Hospital, is a board member for the United Way of Westchester Putnam, the Junior League of Northern Westchester Community Advisory Council, the ALOFT Livable Communities Council, volunteers with the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, and is a girls soccer coach for the Lewisboro Soccer Club. Pete has been a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, having grown up in New City in Rockland County. Pete and Janet moved to Katonah in 1991. Together they have two daughters, Emma aged 14 & Kate aged 11 who attend the Katonah-Lewisboro public schools. Accomplishments Hon. Peter Harckham, 2nd L.D., was first elected in November 2007 to represent northeast Westchester on the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Harckham has worked full time in his position becoming recognized countywide as a leader on water quality protection issues, known as an independent voice for fiscal discipline and committed to protecting and empowering our families. He also enjoys a positive reputation as a bipartisan, consensus builder. In November 2009, an election that was not kind to Democrats, Pete was reelected to a second term on the County Board and increased his vote totals from 2007 by over 15%. Finance & Government Reform • 2009/2010 Budgets – Closed $46M and $121M budget shortfalls in the face of a 30% increase in the demand for County safety net services, made important investments in foreclosure and eviction prevention while holding the County tax levy increases low. • Successfully reduced BOL budget 5% in 09 and another 6% in 10. • Successfully cosponsored legislation granting property tax breaks to volunteer emergency first-responders and veterans. • Successfully removed Playland from property tax levy support. • Successfully opposed proposed stipend increases for legislative leadership. • Successfully opposed pay increases for top County management. • Coauthored report tightening BOL spending, procurement and personnel policies. • Voted against increases in filing fees for the County Clerk’s office. • Served on BOL Stimulus Task Force and Subcommittee on Women and Minority Owned Businesses. Water Quality Protection • Founding Chair – Septic Subcommittee • Steered nearly $11M in EOH water quality protection funds to northeast Westchester, including $10M for creation of Peach Lake sewer district. • Successfully negotiated comprehensive septic management plan with State DEC and northern Westchester municipalities to protect water quality while saving towns hundreds of thousands of dollars in administration costs. • Created first countywide septic database. • Successfully passed EOH legislation aiding water quality improvement projects in Somers and Bedford. • Successfully passed groundbreaking legislation restricting phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. • Successfully passed $235M bond to protect Long Island Sound from nitrogen discharged by County sewer treatment plants. Protecting Our Families • Successfully sponsored legislation to toughen DWI penalties in Westchester. • Successfully passed Social Host legislation to protect underaged teens from parties where alcohol is served. • Successfully passed restrictions on the sale of cough medicine containing DXM to minors. • Successfully sponsored emergency appropriation for mortgage foreclosure prevention saving over 250 Westchester families from foreclosure. • Successfully appropriated $150,000 in Invest in Kids funding for Boys & Girls Club of northern Westchester for at-risk youth. • Successfully cosponsored legislation granting property tax breaks to volunteer emergency first-responders and veterans. • Helped to create 12 units of affordable senior housing in Pound Ridge and secured millions of dollars for affordable housing countywide. Environmental Initiatives • Successfully appropriated funding for aircraft noise monitor for Pound Ridge to monitor possible impacts of FAA airspace redesign over northern Westchester. • Successfully passed countywide anti-idling ordinance to improve air quality. • Advancing bicycle friendly mass transit initiatives in Westchester including bike racks on buses and bicycle lockers at mass transit hubs. • Advancing countywide energy efficiency and alternative energy initiatives in Energy Subcommittee and Stimulus Task Force. • Successfully bonded the purchase of electric service vehicles for Westchester County Airport. • Successfully bonded purchase of new, clean hybrid buses and diesel filter retrofits for the Bee Line bus system. Local Infrastructure • Successfully passed $2.2M in bonds for road repair in Mount Kisco. • Successfully passed $4.3M in bonds for bridge repair in North Salem. • Successfully passed $700,000 in bonds for road repair in Bedford. • Successfully passed $10M in EOH funds for North Salem sewers • Successfully secured funding for aircraft noise monitoring sensor in Pound Ridge. Organizations • United Way of Westchester-Putnam – Board of Trustees • Northern Westchester Hospital – President’s Council • Junior League of Northern Westchester – Community Advisory Council • ALOFT – Livable Community Council • A-HOME – former President, Board of Trustees • Lewisboro Soccer Club – volunteer coach • Wolf Conservation Center - volunteer