2026 New York General Election

BIOGRAPHY OF SUPERVISOR RICHARD H. BECKER

Although born and raised in Manhattan, Dr. Becker has lived his entire adult life in Westchester. After completing his medical training at Westchester Medical Center, he settled in Cortlandt.

Biography of Supervisor Richard H. Becker

Biographical Information

Education BA, Binghamton University M.D., New York Medical College

Prior Civic Service Zoning Board, TOC. Councilman, Town of Cortlandt 2008--2021. Supervisor, Town of Corlandt 2022-present

VOTE411 Voter Guide - Cortlandt Town Supervisor

On a personal note, Richard met his wife Terry, the summer before college. He has two adult children who attended the Hendrick Hudson Schools.

On a personal note, Richard met his wife Terry, the summer before college. He has two adult children who attended the Hendrick Hudson Schools. Dr. Becker feels blessed to have been able to raise his family here, and to pay these blessings forward.

Richard H. Becker was born and raised in Manhattan. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University and a medical degree from New York Medical College. He is married to Terry and has two adult children.

Town Supervisor - Town of Cortlandt, NY

While practicing at Hudson Valley Hospital, Dr. Becker established the largest private practice cardiology group in Westchester, as well as served as President of the Medical Staff, and as Chairman of The Medical Board. Dr. Becker also established the hospital’s inpatient hospitalist group, and the outpatient Westchester Medical Practice.

In 2014, Dr. Becker joined Phelps Memorial Hospital as Vice-President of Physician Services. He established Phelps Medical Associates, an outpatient medical group at 15 locations.

Richard H. Becker worked as vice president of physician services at Phelps Memorial Hospital. Previously, he practiced at Hudson Valley Hospital, where he served as president of the medical staff and chairman of the medical board.

In 2007, he was elected as a Cortlandt Trustee/Councilman, serving in this capacity ever since. On November 2, 2021, Dr. Becker was elected Town Supervisor to begin his term on January 2022.

Concurrently, Dr. Becker served on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals for three years. In 2007, he was elected as a Cortlandt Trustee/Councilman, serving in this capacity ever since.

Richard currently serves as Cortlandt Town Supervisor. He was elected in 2021 and began his term in 2022. He previously served as a Cortlandt councilman from 2008 to 2021, after being elected in 2007.

What do you see as the priorities for your municipality? (Maximum 1,000 characters)

Richard H Becker: My priority is to grow our town in a slow and steady direction, while maintaining our semi rural character. We will develop the main corridors, while preserving residential areas. We will maintain and perfect our infrastructure, while keeping taxes as low as possible.

Plans to keep taxes as low as possible while maintaining and improving infrastructure.

- Plans to keep taxes as low as possible while maintaining and improving infrastructure.

Economy

As of October 23, 2026, RICHARD H BECKER did not have a website or any information online.

Public Services

Plans to pursue slow, steady town growth, develop main corridors, and preserve residential areas and the town's semi-rural character.

- Plans to pursue slow, steady town growth, develop main corridors, and preserve residential areas and the town's semi-rural character.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Plans to maintain and improve infrastructure while keeping taxes as low as possible.

- Plans to maintain and improve infrastructure while keeping taxes as low as possible.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Dr. Becker’s involvement in the Cortlandt community began when he established the Dickerson Mountain Preservation Association, a group that resisted development on wetlands adjacent to the tallest mountain in Westchester. Having attended almost every relevant Planning Board meeting over almost 20 years, his group succeeded in preserving these 120 acres.

Established the Dickerson Mountain Preservation Association, which resisted development on wetlands adjacent to Dickerson Mountain.

- Established the Dickerson Mountain Preservation Association, which resisted development on wetlands adjacent to Dickerson Mountain.

Energy & the Environment

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RICHARD H BECKER

As of October 23, 2026, RICHARD H BECKER’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Cook gave up going to law school in 1989 when she became pregnant with her first child. After her daughter died, she went on to specialize in medical malpractice and has worked as a litigation paralegal throughout her professional career.

For years, Cook said, her life largely belonged to her daughters.

For Cortlandt supervisor: Sheri Ann Cook vs. Richard Becker

Sheri Ann Cook has worked as a litigation paralegal, specializing in medical malpractice.

For Cortlandt Supervisor, Sheri Ann Cook vs Richard Becker

I want to create more commercial spaces in Westchester so that they can be rented or purchased similar to what Beacon and Cold Spring have done. One of the things many constituents have brought to my attention is the desire to have diversified commerce, including shops and restaurants. As to buildings that are already vacant, I intend to draw new businesses here and deal with obstructive over-regulation. I also want to entertain one or two large-scale developers to our area which would create a family multi-entertainment facility. There are several options open to me with people I have met and known over the year.

You have proposed attracting more businesses to reduce pressure on residential taxpayers. What types of businesses would you like to see come to Cortlandt?

I want to create more commercial spaces in Westchester so that they can be rented or purchased similar to what Beacon and Cold Spring have done. One of the things many constituents have brought to my attention is the desire to have diversified commerce, including shops and restaurants. As to buildings that are already vacant, I intend to draw new businesses here and deal with obstructive over-regulation. I also want to entertain one or two large-scale developers to our area which would create a family multi-entertainment facility.

I want to create more commercial spaces in Westchester so that they can be rented or purchased similar to what Beacon and Cold Spring have done. One of the things many constituents have brought to my attention is the desire to have diversified commerce, including shops and restaurants. As to buildings that are already vacant, I intend to draw new businesses here and deal with obstructive over-regulation. I also want to entertain one or two large-scale developers to our area which would create a family multi-entertainment facility.

Wants to attract one or two large-scale developers to create a family-oriented, multi-entertainment facility.

Plans to create commercial spaces, attract businesses to vacant buildings, and address what she calls “obstructive over-regulation.”

- Wants to attract one or two large-scale developers to create a family-oriented, multi-entertainment facility.
- Plans to create commercial spaces, attract businesses to vacant buildings, and address what she calls “obstructive over-regulation.”

As of October 23, 2026, SHERI ANN COOK did not have a website or any information online.

You have proposed a moratorium on multifamily housing and large apartment complexes. What would you want that moratorium to accomplish?

Creating multi-family apartments or condos is a topic to explore when we have created a reasonable job market and businesses that would support those who might move into our area and work here. As you might suspect, thousands of jobs were lost and many businesses left just from the closure of Indian Point alone. Nothing has been done to replace the revenue generated from it either. How can we responsibly support creating communities in which to live when we do not have the industries people would need to live? It makes no sense to put the cart before the horse, hoping for, instead of relying on, good outcomes. Once we have created better and additional commercial spaces to generate revenue, the burden on the homeowner would naturally decrease.

Town of Cortlandt resident Sheri Ann Cook has created a petition with over 100 signatures that calls for repeal of the Yeshiva’s special permits, denial of the request to build a new dormitory, and to force the Yeshiva to “… operate a place of worship and only allow weekend seminars, summer camps, weekend retreats and any alleged religious instruction on the grounds be limited to part-time, non-resident students.”

In the petition, Cook cites 10 pages of allegations that claim the Yeshiva has not been legally authorized to operate in New York state, that the Yeshiva has been dumping sewage into the adjacent wetlands and illegally conferring associate degrees without state Board of Regents approval.

Yeshiva expansion plan on Cortlandt Nov. 6 agenda

Proposes exploring multifamily apartments or condominiums once a job market and commercial development have been established to support new residents.

Petitioned to repeal the Yeshiva's special permits and deny its request to build a new dormitory.

- Proposes exploring multifamily apartments or condominiums once a job market and commercial development have been established to support new residents.
- Petitioned to repeal the Yeshiva's special permits and deny its request to build a new dormitory.

Creating a police department would allow us to invest our tax dollars in our safety, similar to what Yorktown already does. I would also have more patrols at night than day. As to EMS and other shared services, I would want a more thorough accounting of where our dollars are spent. Creating our own emergency system and fire departments is also something I would consider.

Cortlandt shares some public safety and emergency services with neighboring municipalities. Would you change or expand any of these agreements if elected?

As to shared services, I would like to create our own police department. We are beholden to Westchester PD, especially at night when crime heightens. That is not a figment of imagination. Heightened crime at night is a fact. Creating a police department would allow us to invest our tax dollars in our safety, similar to what Yorktown already does. I would also have more patrols at night than day.

Wants a more thorough accounting of spending on emergency medical services and shared services, and would consider local emergency and fire departments.

Proposes creating a local police department and assigning more patrols at night.

- Wants a more thorough accounting of spending on emergency medical services and shared services, and would consider local emergency and fire departments.
- Proposes creating a local police department and assigning more patrols at night.

Holtec was under attack while Cuomo was still in office. The plant was shut down and Hochul jumped in with the green energy ideal, but cannot replace what Indian Point once did for us. I am with Lawler on recommissioning the plant and having newer nuclear technology placed in it. Whatever that may entail, I am open to discussing that resource. It will not be a simple fix given the federal regulations, but repurposing Indian Point to generate energy and lowering our bottom line is certainly better for us and our surrounding areas.

Supports restarting Indian Point with newer nuclear technology while acknowledging federal regulations.

- Supports restarting Indian Point with newer nuclear technology while acknowledging federal regulations.

SHERI ANN COOK

As of October 23, 2026, SHERI ANN COOK’s website did not contain information on this issue.

New York Town Supervisor, Cortlandt

Candidates (2)