Mike Martucci announces candidacy for 42nd State Senate race

Local businessman, part-time farmer and philanthropist Mike Martucci formally announced his bid for New York State Senate on Jan. 23 surrounded by family, friends, supporters and local dignitaries.

“I’ve been traveling throughout the district for the last few months meeting with friends and neighbors, and the common theme I am hearing is that people feel New York state is headed in the wrong direction and our current state senator is out of touch with the needs of the people of the 42nd senate district," Martucci said. "This is why I have decided to run for New York state senate.”

Martucci plans to seek the Republican, Conservative and Independence lines on the ballot for the seat held by Democrat Jen Metzger.

Known locally as “The School Bus Guy,” Martucci made his announcement not far from the school transportation company that he founded in 2007 and recently sold.

“I began my career driving a school bus; parents and families trusted that I would get their children safely to and from school each day. It was a responsibility that I took very seriously and a trust that I always honored," the candidate said. "Should I earn the support of the voters of the 42nd state senate district over the next ten months and win the election, I promise to exercise that same care and sense of commitment as their state senator.”

Martucci started his school transportation company by purchasing one school bus at the age of 22 with his life savings, a small business loan and his grandmother by his side. He later drove the same school bus for his first customer, Greenwood Lake School District. He eventually grew the company to more than 500 employees and 350 school buses serving school districts throughout the area.

“Unfortunately, we see it in the news every day now, criminals committing crimes and then being set free without bail. This is due to an awful new law that our local senator voted for that eliminates bail for a number of horrible crimes against children, families, and even animals,” said Martucci. “Our current state senator just doesn’t get it. We should not be putting the rights of criminals over the rights of our families – especially if it threatens public safety.”

As a board member of the New York School Bus Contractors Association and citizen advocate, Martucci worked with Democrats and Republicans to help pass a law that protects children and families from criminals. The legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Cuomo in 2011, disqualifies a person from driving a school bus if he or she was convicted of promoting a sexual performance of a child.

“Now we hear that Senator Metzger is signing on to a piece of legislation to try undo the damage she and her progressive New York City accomplices caused by voting to eliminate bail for criminals,” said Martucci. “I’ve only been in the race for a day and she’s already trying to change her votes. It’s likely she’s doing this because of all the public backlash, but more likely because she fears that she will loser her senate seat now that people know she fights harder for criminals than the people of her district.”

Martucci concluded “I think the choice is pretty clear. It’s time for change and I think the voters of the 42nd state senate district are ready for a state senator who will take their views into consideration over those of New York City progressives and want a state senator who will put their families first.”

The 42nd state senate district comprises Sullivan county and parts of Orange, Ulster and Delaware counties. In Orange County, the district includes the towns of Tuxedo and Warwick.