West Point grad announces run for county executive

BY ERIKA NORTON
MONROE — West Point graduate and Iraq War veteran Patrick Davis announced his plans to challenge Republican incumbent Steve Neuhaus for Orange County Executive this November.
Davis, 35, of Monroe announced his candidacy for the Democratic ticket Tuesday night at an event in a Blooming Grove senior center that was also livestreamed on Facebook.
“I’m seeking the Democratic endorsement for Orange County Executive not because it pays well, not because I want to hook up my buddies or plan for my political future, not because I want to personally profit off my military service or the service of others we honored this past weekend,” Davis said in his announcement speech. “I’m here because I have a vision for our county that brings together all of our people regardless of their backgrounds or their political party to confront the unique challenges of our times.”
Davis graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2004 and served two tours in Iraq. He also has a masters degree in civil engineering from Norwich University and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Currently, Davis is a director in the New York City offices of the global firm PwC, focusing on banking, capital markets and asset management clients. He and his wife, also a West Point graduate, moved to Monroe in 2010 and have two young sons.
In his announcement speech, Davis highlighted some of the issues he sees affecting the county, such as inadequate public education funding, the state of health care and the opioid epidemic.
“I don’t think we have an opioid problem, or a suicide problem that is leaving our families and tearing them apart, but instead a pervasive mental health problem, particularly in the veteran community,” Davis said. “And yet we stigmatize therapy and we are way behind on employing and training social workers to work in our communities with those that need the most so we can start chipping away at the problem.”
Davis will be running against incumbent Republican Steve Neuhaus, a former Chester town supervisor who is seeking his second term as county executive. In a statement, Neuhaus said he looks forward to meeting the voters on the campaign trail.
“I look forward to running on my record: Cutting county spending by over $20 million, settling every union contract, getting infrastructure projects back on track including bridges and the government center, improving emergency preparedness, cutting the county tax rate, and taking the lead on economic development while reducing the unemployment rate," Neuhaus said. "That’s what I ran on, and what I believe matters to the taxpayers of Orange County.”
Davis, along with the other Orange County Democrats planning to run in this year’s election, were announced at the Endorsement Convention Wednesday night as this paper goes to press.