Letters to the Editor can be sent to [email protected] with full name and town (which are published) plus contact info (not published). Letters should not exceed 500 words, and must be in text format (preferably Word); we cannot accept a PDF. Letters to the Editor that address a third party (e.g., Dear Senator) will not be accepted.
What It Takes to Be a West Point Woman Like Cait Conley
To the Editor:
With the June 23 Democratic primary just weeks away, I want to tell you why I believe Cait Conley deserves your vote to run against Mike Lawler to represent Congressional District 17. Cait Conley is a West Point woman, and I am the mother of one who graduated in 2015. From my daughter and her fellow female cadets, I learned three things.
I learned what it means to survive, let alone thrive, at West Point as a woman. It can be summarized in two words. Total commitment. Commitment to being your best self in an environment that is designed to weed you out, designed to cause you doubt yourself, designed to make you feel powerless. To survive and thrive as a West Point woman means to draw upon total commitment to who you are, to who you represent, and to what you intend to achieve. It’s the kind of commitment that Cait will bring to serve us, her CD 17 constituents.
My second learning was about what it takes to succeed after a West Point education. For a woman you have to be book smart and savvy. Book smarts Cait has with two master’s degrees—one from MIT in Business Administration and another from Harvard in Public Policy. But to succeed as a woman officer you also have to be savvy—you have to be strategic in thinking long range. And you have to be tactical by making the right choices in the moment. As a female military officer, you have to be at the top of your game every single minute of every single day… with your mind in the long game and your eyes on what’s in front of you. THAT is what it is going to take to be effective in Congress and THAT, too, is what Cait can deliver because she’s already proven she can.
The third and final thing I learned as the mother of a West Point woman is what a West Point education and military service shapes in her. And that, far and away, is leadership. It is leading in the face of animosity, it is leading despite harassment. It is leading when many expect you to fail… want to watch you falter. It is leading, not just by standing strong, but by stepping up and walking toward the challenge and into the risk. Eyes. Wide. Open.
It is these three attributes of character that I witness being carried into everyday life by my daughter and women like her who went to West Point and served as officers in the military. It is these three attributes of character that I am confident Cait Conley will carry with her into Congress, a Congress sorely in need of total commitment, savvy smarts, and tenacious leadership.
Cait deserves your vote in the Democratic primary on June 23. Learn more about Cait and her qualifications at caitconley.com.
Deb Eldridge
Putnam Valley, NY
Vote for the Best. Vote for Beth!
To the Editor:
The race for New York’s 17th Congressional District is critical. The incumbent isn’t a pushover, so we need the best possible candidate to run.
After careful consideration, I believe that our best candidate is Beth Davidson.
I took this decision very seriously. I met with the candidates, attended forums, and followed each campaign closely. Beth stood out for her positions, her character, her experience, and her leadership skills.
Voters consistently say that they want representatives who are problem solvers that are responsible, dependable, and available. Beth embodies all of those qualities. She brings both legislative and campaign experience, a deep understanding of the district, and more than twenty years of living in our community. Beth lives in Rockland County and has won office there multiple times, which is critical in a county where Lawler lives and has also won. Beth has the credibility to compete and prevail in Rockland. And she has now established her credentials in Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess.
Beth’s priorities reflect what matters most to Hudson Valley families: tackling the affordability crisis, protecting our environment, Social Security and Medicare, defending reproductive freedom, safeguarding our democracy and the rights of all residents, and restoring integrity to government at home and abroad. She combines a clear vision with the steady leadership and judgment needed to navigate difficult challenges.
Congress was designed by our founders to be close to the people. And members of Congress must be responsive, accountable, and grounded in real community needs. As a legislator, Beth has already proven that she is committed to putting people before party and special interests.
In contrast, Lawler and MAGA Republicans have focused on partisan agendas that favor the wealthy and special interests. We need an experienced representative who has lived here, fully understands our needs, and will focus on solutions, not distractions, disruptions, and profiteering.
Beth Davidson has the experience, integrity, and strength to stand up to Lawler and his tricks and lies.
Beth will fight to win. Beth will flip this seat. And Beth will serve with purpose.
Democrats: on June 23 come out to vote in this Primary and unite behind the candidate who will take us to victory in November.
Come out to vote. Come out to vote for Beth Davidson!
Mark A. Lieberman
Yorktown, NY
Conley Re-Ignites Hope
To the editor:
It’s been a long time since I have been inspired by a political candidate. For years it was just choose the one who seems to share enough of my basic values, fall in line and vote. Inspiration was not part of the picture.
That was until I saw Cait Conley talk about the future of this country. Her passion, smarts and proven patriotism reignited something that has been dormant for a long time amidst the mayhem of our current political climate: Hope.
She sees an America ready and able to work for everyone. Governed by fairness, not greed and grift. A place where we no longer have to turn away in disgust at another headline telling us how our president has corrupted every corner of this country while his loyal minion, Mike Lawler, rubber stamps his every unscrupulous move.
And as the temperature of the NY-17 Democratic primary heats up, Cait makes her case with a positive message, avoiding unnecessary, unsavory, and untrue attacks that only serve to damage the Democratic cause as we prepare to take on Mike Lawler in November.
Cait has the kind of grit and skill set that Lawler is afraid of: leadership in Army Special Ops, years of service at the highest levels of the federal government protecting us from terrorist threats. She is not another standard issue Democratic politician-the kind that Lawler has beaten since 2022.
Go to her website and find out where you can see her speak and see for yourself how great it feels when someone running for office can actually inspire you again.
John Bedford Lloyd
Katonah, NY
Davidson Has Experience, Energy, Compassion
To the Editor:
Having read two recent letters in the Peekskill Herald endorsing candidates for Congress in NY-17, I would like to wholeheartedly endorse Beth Davidson for Congress.
Beth is an experienced legislator currently serving on the Rockland County Board of Legislators. She is a thoughtful and experienced lawmaker who genuinely cares about her community.
As a ten-year volunteer Peekskill Democratic District Leader, I have attended five candidate forums featuring all of the NY-17 candidates. These candidates are all good people with positive visions for our community and for the United States.
Two highly experienced former candidates, John Sullivan and Peter Chatzky, have enthusiastically endorsed Beth. Their endorsements can be seen in a video on Substack, and I encourage voters to watch it.
I believe Beth Davidson will make a fabulous congressperson. She has the experience, energy, and compassion needed to legislate effectively and serve our community well. Beth Davidson will be both an effective and deeply caring representative for NY-17.
Michael Bongar
Peekskill, NY
Why Cait Should Be Your Choice
To the Editor:
At the outset of the CD17 Democratic primary, the candidates made a public commitment not to attack one another. The purpose was simple: avoid providing ammunition that Mike Lawler could later use against the eventual Democratic nominee in the general election.
To their credit, the candidates honored that pledge—with one regrettable exception.
Beth Davidson has repeatedly centered her campaign on accusations against Cait Conley that originated with Lawler and partisan media outlets. Most notably, Davidson has sought to portray Conley’s previous work as evidence that she somehow supports policies harmful to immigrant communities. These claims are unsubstantiated, false and rely on little more than guilt by very questionable association.
If such reasoning were valid, one could just as easily question Davidson’s ownership of substantial investments in Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle—companies that have, at various times, contracted with federal agencies, including DHS and ICE. Yet that would be equally unfair and misleading.
Rather than respond in kind, Conley has focused on the issues and on her record of service as a West Point honor graduate, Army officer, combat veteran, and former senior national security official. She has also been unequivocal in condemning abuses of power and calling for accountability and reform within federal immigration enforcement agencies.
Negative campaigning can be effective, but it comes at a cost. Davidson’s willingness to break her word and repeat unsubstantiated attacks raises concerns about judgment and character. As Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, content of character matters.
A candidate’s word should mean something. Cait Conley has demonstrated that principle throughout this campaign, and throughout her life of public service. Add to that unique skill sets, fiery determination and selfless motivation and you have the only candidate that can realistically beat Mike Lawler and reclaim our seat in Congress on election day.
Jay Forbes
Peekskill, NY
Conley Is Only One in the Race with Knowledge of AI
To the Editor:
This is the first primary I’ve taken an interest in because I feel it is so vital to defeat Mike Lawler in November. After attending 2 panel discussions, meeting the candidates, listening to interviews, and assorted research, I strongly support Cait Conley.
We have a choice between Beth Davidson, a career politician who is running a negative campaign rife with MAGA-like lies and innuendos, and Cait Conley who has consistently been talking to voters about the issues and her plans to bring economic relief to all of District 17.
Cait brings a unique combination of talents and experience to the task of governing.
For 16 years Cait showed her leadership abilities in combat, earning 3 Bronze Stars. She served as Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council and worked directly with Congress on complex issues of national security and our critical infrastructure, such as the water supply. Subsequently at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, she worked to protect the security and integrity of our elections. Conley stood up to Trump, countering his claim of winning the 2020 election.
Importantly, she is the only one in the race with a knowledge of AI. As mentioned, she has worked with the Congress. More recently she’s worked with state and local law enforcement in such areas as protecting families attending huge stadium events. She has worked to keep hospitals safe from cyber attacks. She knows the positives and negatives of AI and believes that, like any new technology, it needs to be regulated. She is opposed to building a data center at Indian Point.
Cait Conley can beat Mike Lawler. She has a commitment and belief in America that appeals to voters of different backgrounds, Democrats and Republicans.
With her boundless energy and broad experience, including of the way Congress works, Cait can make a major impact for our district—and she’s the only candidate who can hit the ground running on Day One.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara Lalicki
Ossining
Stealing Conley’s Signs Is a Sign
To the Editor:
I am an ardent supporter of Cait Conley for New York’s 17th Congressional District. Ever since meeting her last summer, and hearing her speak at forums and in intimate rooms, I’ve known Cait as a winner. She is clearly the best candidate we have had in a long time, and I go way back. Lately I’ve noticed her lawn signs disappearing. While it’s not surprising for overzealous volunteers to think they are helping their candidate by pulling down the opposition signs, the opposite is true. The remaining signs reveal a lot. At this point in the campaign most intersections sprout signs for all candidates. Seeing only one candidate’s signs points a finger at whose campaign might be responsible.
Is this a tactic a top contender is using? I’d like to think not but. But when a candidate resorts to childish actions because they are down in the polls, (Cait was way ahead in the last poll), who knows?
Come on candidates: stop stealing lawn signs and tell us what you are actually going to do for us. Follow Cait’s lead. She is talking about concrete plans to address housing affordability, like a housing GI Bill for first responders, teachers, nurses and public servants. It’s not a handout: it’s an earned path to buying a home and living the American dream. Cait has a firm grasp on what hardworking Hudson Valley families need.
We are living in very challenging times. Together, we must rally to replace our current Congressman who consistently votes — down the line and lock step — against our best interests.
We need someone who will fight for us, not rubber stamp the powers that be in Washington.
In this critical Democratic Primary, vote for the only candidate who can win in November. I urge you to vote for Cait Conley — she is a fighter who can get the job done.
Early voting starts on June 13. Election Day is June 23.
Kathie Talbot
Peekskill, NY
Conley Is Type A for the US of A
To the Editor:
I support Cait Conley for NY17 because she is the best positioned to win and flip our deep purple district to blue. In one of the debates I heard Effie say that as a party we need to win back white working class voters who have left Democrats for Trump. I completely agree, but I think Cait is the right woman to reach the people we’ve lost as a party. Her family is from Buchanan and Montrose — part of the reason she was called to serve as a young woman is her family served and the men were volunteer firefighters. Cait was called to serve after 9/11 like so many other men and women from my age cohort.
I got to work for West Point officers like Cait Conley. It was a pleasure working for officers who are type A for the US of A and have been groomed as leaders since they were teenagers.
Cait ran into danger as a lesbian during Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. She was willing to hide a part of herself in service to this country.
A part of the culture of West Point is the long grey line and the continuity of American values and traditions. This is really the antithesis of Trump’s America.
This district is deep purple. We have three tractor supply stores and we have more independents than Republicans. We can’t win this district without independents. Lawler outperformed Trump in this district in part because he appealed to a large number of independent voters. At this moment in America there is too much on the line to risk not flipping this seat. Cait understands the assignment and is best positioned to flip this seat blue. I’m happy to be voting for her this June and November.
Mark Davis
Peekskill, NY
Conley Inspired by 9/11 to Serve Country
To the Editor:
As voters in New York’s 17th Congressional District consider who is best prepared to represent us in Washington, Cait Conley stands out as a candidate with a lifetime of service, leadership, and results.
A fourth-generation Hudson Valley native from a working-class family, Cait understands the challenges facing local families because she has lived them. Her mother spent nearly five decades serving our communities as a postal worker, and her father worked in construction. Cait became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning admission to West Point after being inspired to serve following the attacks of September 11th.
For 16 years, Cait served our nation as an Army officer, deploying six times to combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan and earning three Bronze Stars. She later continued her service at the White House National Security Council and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, where she worked to protect our country, our critical infrastructure, and the integrity of our elections.
Today, families across the Hudson Valley are struggling with rising costs, unaffordable housing, aging infrastructure, and concerns about healthcare. Cait Conley has spent her career tackling difficult challenges and delivering solutions. She is not a career politician; she is a proven public servant who has led under pressure and understands how government can work for ordinary people.
At a time when experience, integrity, and effective leadership matter more than ever, Cait Conley offers a compelling vision for the future of NY-17 and the ability to get results from day one.
Sincerely,
Chuck Newman
Yorktown Heights, NY
[Editor’s Note > The above writer used artificial intelligence to “polish and edit” this letter.]
