2026 New York General Election

SAFEGUARDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS

Rebuilt the County fund balance and improved its bond ratings

Co-authored legislation to reform the bidding process for capital projects

Held the line on property taxes and maximized outside revenue sources

Accomplishments

IMPROVING AFFORDABILITY, SERVICES & PUBLIC SPACES

Invested hundreds of thousands in local non-profits to provide critical services in our communities

Pushing back against the utilities seeking to raise our gas and electric bills

Opposing federal cuts to essential services

NEW $1M PROGRAM TARGETS WESTCHESTER’S CHILD CARE SHORTAGE WITH WAGE BOOSTS
Jul 22

Erika Pierce said high costs and waitlists creates “a crisis for children, for families, for employers, and for our economy,” 

“Childcare is such a critical issue for our local economy and for families here,” she said. “If we want employers to keep moving to Westchester, we have to be able to provide families with childcare options.”

New $1M Program Targets Westchester’s Child Care Shortage With Wage Boosts

Co-authored legislation to reform the bidding process for capital projects.

Held property taxes steady and maximized revenue from outside sources.

Pushes back against utility efforts to raise gas and electric bills.

Said Westchester needs childcare options for families to support employers moving to the county.

- Co-authored legislation to reform the bidding process for capital projects.
- Held property taxes steady and maximized revenue from outside sources.
- Pushes back against utility efforts to raise gas and electric bills.
- Said Westchester needs childcare options for families to support employers moving to the county.

Economy

IMPROVING AFFORDABILITY, SERVICES & PUBLIC SPACES

Delivered millions in sales tax revenue to our towns and schools

Secured investments in affordable housing, downtown improvements, and all five Westchester County Parks in District 2 (Lasdon Park, Merestead Park, Mountain Lakes Park, Muscoot Farm, and Ward Pound Ridge)

IMPROVING AFFORDABILITY, SERVICES & PUBLIC SPACES

Delivered millions in sales tax revenue to our towns and schools

Secured investments in affordable housing, downtown improvements, and all five Westchester County Parks in District 2 (Lasdon Park, Merestead Park, Mountain Lakes Park, Muscoot Farm, and Ward Pound Ridge)

Invested hundreds of thousands in local non-profits to provide critical services in our communities

Pushing back against the utilities seeking to raise our gas and electric bills

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SAFETY

Established mental health teams to assist police

Authored law creating free County park passes for veterans

Fought to expand tax exemptions for first responders

Delivered millions in sales-tax revenue to local towns and schools.

Invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in local nonprofits providing community services.

Authored a law creating free county park passes for veterans.

- Delivered millions in sales-tax revenue to local towns and schools.
- Invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in local nonprofits providing community services.
- Authored a law creating free county park passes for veterans.

Public Services

IMPROVING AFFORDABILITY, SERVICES & PUBLIC SPACES

Delivered millions in sales tax revenue to our towns and schools

Secured investments in affordable housing, downtown improvements, and all five Westchester County Parks in District 2 (Lasdon Park, Merestead Park, Mountain Lakes Park, Muscoot Farm, and Ward Pound Ridge)

Invested hundreds of thousands in local non-profits to provide critical services in our communities

Secured investments in affordable housing and downtown improvements.

- Secured investments in affordable housing and downtown improvements.

Housing & Urban Development

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SAFETY

Advocated for investments in public safety and emergency services

Expanded tax exemptions for first responders

Funded supplemental ambulances to improve response times

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SAFETY

Advocated for investments in public safety and emergency services

Expanded tax exemptions for first responders

Funded supplemental ambulances to improve response times

Championed school bus stop-arm cameras

INVESTING IN COMMUNITY SAFETY

Funded supplemental ambulances to improve response times

Championed school bus stop-arm cameras 

Established mental health teams to assist police

Authored law creating free County park passes for veterans

Westchester County has proposed a new local law to address fare evasion on the Bee-Line Bus System through civil penalties, replacing current criminal charges. Riders would face a $50 fine for a first offense and $100 for subsequent violations, with police authorized to issue tickets.

Legislator Erika Pierce, Chair of the Transportation Committee, supports the measure, stating:

“This should be about accountability. This should not be about ruining people's lives.”

Bee-Line fare evasion and electric vehicle infrastructure update

Advocates for investments in public safety and emergency services.

Funded supplemental ambulances to improve emergency response times.

Established mental-health teams to assist police.

Supports replacing criminal charges for Bee-Line fare evasion with civil penalties, saying enforcement should focus on accountability rather than “ruining people's lives.”

- Advocates for investments in public safety and emergency services.
- Funded supplemental ambulances to improve emergency response times.
- Championed school-bus stop-arm cameras.
- Established mental-health teams to assist police.
- Supports replacing criminal charges for Bee-Line fare evasion with civil penalties, saying enforcement should focus on accountability rather than “ruining people's lives.”

Public Safety

WESTCHESTER COUNTY’S COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM ADVANCES WITH FIRST CONSTRUCTION AWARD IN MOUNT KISCO
Jul 8

Link to full article is below

County Legislator Erika Pierce: “Complete Streets projects are investments in our communities, and the people who live and shop there. By improving sidewalks, crossings and public spaces, we are making our neighborhoods safer and more inviting for residents and visitors alike. I am both proud and grateful that Mount Kisco has become the first construction project in this important County program.”

Westchester County’s Complete Streets Program Advances With First Construction Award in Mount Kisco

Supports Complete Streets projects that improve sidewalks, crossings, and public spaces.

- Supports Complete Streets projects that improve sidewalks, crossings, and public spaces.

Transportation & Infrastructure

PROTECTING OUR HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Authored “Upon Request” law, reducing plastic waste and saving money

Advanced clean drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvements

Secured funding for flood mitigation initiatives

Authored the “Upon Request” law to reduce plastic waste and save money.

Advanced clean-drinking-water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Secured funding for flood-mitigation initiatives.

- Authored the “Upon Request” law to reduce plastic waste and save money.
- Advanced clean-drinking-water and wastewater infrastructure improvements.
- Secured funding for flood-mitigation initiatives.

Energy & the Environment

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ERIKA LANG PIERCE

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Vala, an 11-year resident of Somers, grew up in Queens in a blue-collar family. He said his parents live with him because they can no longer afford their own home.

That’s part of the reason why, he said, he’s focused on lowering taxes and costs, especially for seniors.

North Salem senior candidate forum

Jozef Vala grew up in Queens and has lived in Somers for 11 years.

Candidates face off at North Salem forum - Yorktown News

Jozef Vala
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Republican · NY

Somers resident, prior school-board candidate, and Republican candidate for Westchester County Legislator District 2.

Campaign finance information not available

Jozef Vala candidate profile

Jozef previously ran for a school board position.

Jozef Vala — Candidate for Westchester County Legislator District 2 ...

Support county parks to utilize industrial mobile pools that can provide access to public parks for swimming and events during the summer

Boost tourism through seasonal festivals in order to increase revenue for each town

Stand against Flock cameras and surveillance technologies in our neighborhoods

Friends of Jozef Vala campaign priorities

Stand against Flock cameras and surveillance technologies in our neighborhoods

Negotiate with landlords and businesses to ensure affordable rent for local businesses

© 2026 by Friends of Jozef Vala. Powered and secured by Wix

Prioritizes lowering taxes and costs, especially for seniors.

Plans to boost tourism through seasonal festivals to increase revenue for each town.

Plans to negotiate with landlords and businesses to secure affordable rent for local businesses.

- Prioritizes lowering taxes and costs, especially for seniors.
- Plans to boost tourism through seasonal festivals to increase revenue for each town.
- Plans to negotiate with landlords and businesses to secure affordable rent for local businesses.

Support the widening and repaving of roads for bicycle riders

Restore old trails for community engagement in nature

Promote pride in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Somers, highlighting each town's unique characteristics and history through community-sponsored and collaborative events

Restore old trails for community engagement in nature

Promote pride in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Somers, highlighting each town's unique characteristics and history through community-sponsored and collaborative events

Support county parks to utilize industrial mobile pools that can provide access to public parks for swimming and events during the summer

Promote pride in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, and Somers, highlighting each town's unique characteristics and history through community-sponsored and collaborative events

Support county parks to utilize industrial mobile pools that can provide access to public parks for swimming and events during the summer

Boost tourism through seasonal festivals in order to increase revenue for each town

Supports restoring old trails to encourage community engagement with nature.

Plans to promote local pride through community-sponsored and collaborative events highlighting each town's characteristics and history.

Supports using mobile pools at county parks for summer swimming and events.

- Supports restoring old trails to encourage community engagement with nature.
- Plans to promote local pride through community-sponsored and collaborative events highlighting each town's characteristics and history.
- Supports using mobile pools at county parks for summer swimming and events.

As of October 23, 2026, Joe Vala’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Boost tourism through seasonal festivals in order to increase revenue for each town

Stand against Flock cameras and surveillance technologies in our neighborhoods

Negotiate with landlords and businesses to ensure affordable rent for local businesses

Opposes Flock cameras and surveillance technologies in neighborhoods.

- Opposes Flock cameras and surveillance technologies in neighborhoods.

To effectively serve the people of District 2, Joe pledges to....

Support the widening and repaving of roads for bicycle riders

Restore old trails for community engagement in nature

Supports widening and repaving roads for bicyclists.

- Supports widening and repaving roads for bicyclists.

Vala agreed with Esposito about reopening Indian Point.

“Why not?” he asked rhetorically, adding that he was for energy sources such as solar and wind as well.

Supports reopening Indian Point and using energy sources such as solar and wind.

- Supports reopening Indian Point and using energy sources such as solar and wind.

Joe Vala

- Plans to boost tourism through seasonal festivals to increase revenue for each town.
- Plans to negotiate with landlords and businesses to secure affordable rent for local businesses.

As of October 23, 2026, JOZEF VALA’s website did not contain information on this issue.

JOZEF VALA

Jozef was previously a candidate for a school-board seat.

Westchester County Legislator, District 2

Candidates (2)