2026 New York General Election

My name is Ali Jaffery and I am a Hudson Valley native, an attorney, and a dad with a third grader over at Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary. I moved to Croton in 2018 because it is a vibrant and forward-looking community. I am writing to introduce myself because I am running for Village Justice.

Guest Editorial: Croton Dem/WFP candidate Ali R. Jaffery makes his case to be elected as Village Justice in November.

I have fought for everything that I have in my life. I am the child of working-class Pakistani immigrants. My father was on the fifty-first floor of the North Tower when the first plane struck on September 11, 2001, which was also my second day of high school. I graduated from Rutgers University at the height of the 2008 financial crisis and attended New York Law School, both of which I funded myself out of necessity.

Guest Editorial: Croton Dem/WFP candidate Ali R. Jaffery makes his ...

Ali Raza Jaffrey earned a degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from New York Law School. He is a married father.

I operate a private law practice where my main focus is plaintiff’s side employment law. My day-to-day work involves helping people, particularly women and minorities who have faced harassment or discrimination in the workplace, get back on their feet. I also bring extensive experience in both civil and criminal matters, including prior service as a judicial law clerk for the presiding judge of Hudson County, New Jersey, the state’s second largest court system by volume.

I operate a private law practice where my main focus is plaintiff’s side employment law. My day-to-day work involves helping people, particularly women and minorities who have faced harassment or discrimination in the workplace, get back on their feet. I also bring extensive experience in both civil and criminal matters, including prior service as a judicial law clerk for the presiding judge of Hudson County, New Jersey, the state’s second largest court system by volume.

In that capacity, I handled weekly arraignments. This background has shown me exactly what a functional, efficient, and compassionate justice system looks like.

Ali operates a private law practice focused on representing plaintiffs in employment law cases. He previously served as a judicial law clerk for the presiding judge of Hudson County, New Jersey.

Ali Raza Jaffery

Ali Raza Jaffrey earned a degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from New York Law School.

ALI RAZA JAFFERY

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Sam R. Watkins Jr. earned a degree from Yale and a law degree from Boston University.

The campaign page describes Watkins's military service and subsequent legal career: “After graduating from college in 1966, he joined the US Army where he served as an officer and forward observer in Vietnam. After completing his two year tour of duty, he attended law school and began his longstanding practice of law in the community.”

Your Candidates 2026 — Voice of Croton

Sam served as an officer and forward observer in the U.S. Army for two years, including in Vietnam. He later practiced law in the community.

Court | Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Sam is the Village Justice in Croton-on-Hudson.

Sam R. Watkins Jr.

SAM R WATKINS JR

Sam R. Watkins Jr. currently serves as Croton-on-Hudson's Village Justice and has held the office for about 20 years.

New York Village Justice, Croton-on-Hudson

Candidates (2)