Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Office
Running for State Senate, New York, 35th District
Biography
Andrea Stewart-Cousins was born and raised in New York. She grew up in public housing in upper west side Manhattan and the Bronx. Her father was a WWII veteran who earned a bronze star and a Purple Heart while serving his country in a segregated Army and her mother was a civil servant for the City of New York.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins moved to Westchester in the 1980s, settling with her late husband and three children in Southwest Yonkers. She has lived there ever since.
In her early career, Andrea Stewart-Cousins worked as a journalist, a public-school teacher and for 13 years as a customer service and sales & marketing professional for New York Telephone/ AT&T. She entered government in 1992 when she was appointed by former Yonkers Mayor Terry Zaleski as the city’s Director of Community Affairs, the first African American woman to hold that position. While there, she helped create the Art on Main Street program and was a co-creator of Yonkers Riverfest, an annual city-wide festival that continues to this day. She also played a key role in the City’s proactive outreach efforts to all communities.
In 1996, Andrea Stewart-Cousins was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators where she served for a decade. While there, she created Westchester’s groundbreaking human rights laws and passed restrictions against smoking in the work place and tough safe storage requirements for gun owners. As the chair of the task force on women and families, she was a staunch advocate for day care, foster care and kinship care in Westchester. She eventually rose to the position of Vice Chair of the Board.
Senator Stewart-Cousins first ran for the State Senate in 2004. She lost that election by just 18 votes. Two years later, she ran again and won by over 1,800 votes. She has served in the State Senate since then.
In 2012, Senator Stewart-Cousins was elected by her Democratic colleagues to serve as the leader of the Senate Democratic Conference, the first woman in the history of New York to hold a legislative leadership position. If Democrats maintain the majority in this year’s November elections, Senator Stewart-Cousins will become New York State’s first ever woman Majority Leader which would place her at the forefront of the State’s efforts to fight back against the Trump administration and advance progressive legislation.
Senator Stewart-Cousins earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pace University and her teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College while raising her children as an adult. In 2008, she earned her Master of Public Administration from Pace University and is a proud member of Pi Alpha Alpha – a Public Administration Honor Society. She has three children and four grandchildren.
Source: ANDREA STEWART COUSINS.COM
Priorities
Women's Issues
As the first woman in the history of New York to lead a legislative conference, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins brings the voices of women to the table at the highest levels of State government. In the face of unrelenting attacks from the Trump Administration, Andrea Stewart-Cousins has stood up as one of the strongest advocates for women in New York State.
Jobs
Senator Stewart-Cousins is committed to finding new and innovative ways of growing the economy in Westchester County and throughout New York State. She has been at the forefront of the State’s efforts to attract businesses and retain jobs and is committed to ensuring a living wage for working families.
Taxes
Senator Stewart-Cousins understands that Westchester taxpayers are over-burdened. That’s why she has a strong record of lowering taxes and keeping New York affordable.
Ethics & Campaign Finance Reform
The faith of New Yorkers in their government has been shaken by corruption. But Senator Stewart-Cousins has lead the charge to restore integrity and trust in Albany.
Education
Senator Stewart-Cousins remains a steadfast supporter of public education. As a public school graduate, parent of public school educated children and grandchildren, and a former public school teacher, the Senator understands that all children in New York State deserve to receive a quality education.
Environment
Senator Stewart-Cousins is a strong steward of the environment. This year she earned a perfect score on the Environmental Advocates Legislative Scorecard. She remains committed to investing in sustainability, promoting the green economy and keeping the state’s land, air and water clean and healthy.
Gun Control & Public Safety
Senator Stewart-Cousins has consistently advocated for common sense gun reform. She spearheaded the successful passage of the SAFE Act, the toughest gun control laws in the nation and has implemented successful programs in her district to cut down on gun violence.
Source: ANDREA STEWART COUSINS.COM
Andrea Stewart-Cousins
...
Office
Running for State Senate, New York, 35th District
Biography
Andrea Stewart-Cousins was born and raised in New York. She grew up in public housing in upper west side Manhattan and the Bronx. Her father was a WWII veteran who earned a bronze star and a Purple Heart while serving his country in a segregated Army and her mother was a civil servant for the City of New York.
Andrea Stewart-Cousins moved to Westchester in the 1980s, settling with her late husband and three children in Southwest Yonkers. She has lived there ever since.
In her early career, Andrea Stewart-Cousins worked as a journalist, a public-school teacher and for 13 years as a customer service and sales & marketing professional for New York Telephone/ AT&T. She entered government in 1992 when she was appointed by former Yonkers Mayor Terry Zaleski as the city’s Director of Community Affairs, the first African American woman to hold that position. While there, she helped create the Art on Main Street program and was a co-creator of Yonkers Riverfest, an annual city-wide festival that continues to this day. She also played a key role in the City’s proactive outreach efforts to all communities.
In 1996, Andrea Stewart-Cousins was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators where she served for a decade. While there, she created Westchester’s groundbreaking human rights laws and passed restrictions against smoking in the work place and tough safe storage requirements for gun owners. As the chair of the task force on women and families, she was a staunch advocate for day care, foster care and kinship care in Westchester. She eventually rose to the position of Vice Chair of the Board.
Senator Stewart-Cousins first ran for the State Senate in 2004. She lost that election by just 18 votes. Two years later, she ran again and won by over 1,800 votes. She has served in the State Senate since then.
In 2012, Senator Stewart-Cousins was elected by her Democratic colleagues to serve as the leader of the Senate Democratic Conference, the first woman in the history of New York to hold a legislative leadership position. If Democrats maintain the majority in this year’s November elections, Senator Stewart-Cousins will become New York State’s first ever woman Majority Leader which would place her at the forefront of the State’s efforts to fight back against the Trump administration and advance progressive legislation.
Senator Stewart-Cousins earned her Bachelor of Science Degree from Pace University and her teaching credentials in Business Education from Lehman College while raising her children as an adult. In 2008, she earned her Master of Public Administration from Pace University and is a proud member of Pi Alpha Alpha – a Public Administration Honor Society. She has three children and four grandchildren.
Source: ANDREA STEWART COUSINS.COM
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