Ramapo, NY — In a closely watched race, Democrat Aron Wieder has unseated incumbent Republican Assemblyman John McGowan in New York’s 97th State Assembly District.

The district, encompassing parts of Ramapo and Orangetown in southern Rockland County, saw a significant shift in voter preference, marking a notable victory for the Democratic Party in the area.

McGowan, who had represented the district since 2023, faced a tough re-election campaign amid growing political engagement and demographic changes in the district.

Wieder, a prominent figure in the local community and former legislator, ran a campaign emphasizing inclusivity, education funding, and infrastructure improvements. Wieder’s campaign resonated with voters seeking change, particularly in areas concerning local governance and community relations.

Wieder, a resident of Rockland County for over two decades, resides in Spring Valley with his wife, who has lived in Rockland her entire life, and their four children. Originally from Brooklyn, he attended the Machzikei Hadas yeshiva before continuing his studies at a rabbinical college in Israel.

In 2008, Wieder was elected to the East Ramapo School Board, where he served for three years, ascending from vice president to president of the board. During his tenure, he initiated and secured funding for a full-day kindergarten program and raised private donations for the esteemed East Ramapo Marching Band. His efforts contributed to an increase in the graduation rate, earning him the Board Excellence Award from the New York State School Board Association and a Certificate of Excellence from the Rockland County School Board Association.

Wieder also served as the Confidential Assistant to the Mayor of Spring Valley for two years. In the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, he coordinated significant donations from local businesses for medical supplies and organized a mission of nurses to provide aid, gaining national recognition and honors from the French-Speaking Baptist Church, among others.

In 2011, Wieder was elected to the Rockland County Legislature representing Spring Valley. As a legislator, he championed fiscal responsibility, advocated for relief from unfunded state mandates to reduce property taxes, and supported environmental and social justice legislation. He played a pivotal role in the Stonehouse Road flood mitigation project, a major infrastructure initiative, and supported other local infrastructure projects like the drainage and road improvements on Robert Pitt Drive.

Wieder currently chairs the Budget & Finance Committee and serves on several other committees, including Government Operations, Multi-Services, Planning & Public Work, and the Special Committee on Minority & Women’s Business Enterprise. He is also a member of the NAACP and the Rockland County Democratic Committee.

{Matzav.com}