Sierra Club Endorsement

By Peter B. Harckham

The Sierra Club is proud to announce the endorsement of Peter Harckham for Westchester County Legislator, District # 2.

Peter Harckham has developed an innovative approach to ensure clean drinking water for the citizens of upper Westchester. An estimated 4 to 7 million gallons of septic system wastewater infiltrate the ground every year, thereby subjecting local wetlands and private and municipal wells to be infiltrated by thousands of pounds of nitrates. Mr. Harckham has offered that a combination of regional aquifer mapping and testing, a septic maintenance ordinance, limited sewer development in Katonah and Bedford Hills, and the utilization of grants to assist homeowners and small businesses with septic maintenance will protect regional aquifers.

Peter Harckham has a long history of environmental achievements. As former Vice Chair of the Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation in San Francisco (1992-2003), he awarded substantial monetary grants to environmental organizations for the purposes of protecting human health risk from pollution, reducing pesticide use, and promoting sustainable agriculture. He protected 4 acres of farmland by donating conservation easements to the Westchester Land Trust, secured 3 grants for the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem for red and Mexican wolves (part of the Species Survival Program), and received exceptional environmental scores from the Watershed Council for horse farm renovations which preserved wetlands and reduced fossil fuel consumption.

In addition to his comprehensive groundwater plan, Mr. Harckham's pledges to: (1) control development in the Byram Lake watershed, Mount Kisco's only drinking water source, (2) promote energy conservation tactics to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 16% by 2020 with continued reductions thereafter, (3) promote open spaces and restore wetlands, (4) improve upon clean mass transit in Westchester, and (5) address the impact of the new FAA flight pattern.

Sierra Club leaders urged residents of upper Westchester who care about protecting clean water, clean air and working to prevent global climate change to elect Peter Harckham for Westchester County Legislator, District # 2. According to Congressman John Hall, "Pete is a man who stands up for what he believes in" and is the candidate who will make a difference for the environment.