U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, D-Bronx, announced Thursday that he is running for re-election to his office in the newly configured Congressional District covering southern Westchester and the north Bronx.
“I am very enthused about the honor of representing the new 16th District of New York,” Engel said in a statement. “I have always had the honor and privilege of representing people from the Bronx and Westchester communities while in Congress. Now, due to Federal court redistricting of Congressional Districts, many Westchester residents will be new to the Congressional District that I have represented.”
Engel currently represents a district that includes the northwestern part of the Bronx, traveling north up Yonkers, the Rivertowns and part of Tarrytown, and is connected to southern Rockland by the Tappan Zee Bridge. But his district will change after a panel of federal court judges chose to adopt maps drawn by federal Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann.
Engel remains in the Bronx, but his district will now encompass the parts of southern Westchester that are now represented by U.S. Rep Nita Lowey, D-Harrison. Communities that have moved to Engel’s district include Scarsdale, Rivertowns, Eastchester, Rye, New Rochelle, Pelham and Mamaroneck.
“I look forward to meeting and working for the people who are new to the Congressional District,” Engel said. “Congresswoman Nita Lowey and I have worked closely together on the problems facing all communities in Westchester and I will continue to work hard to represent the people of this new district.”
Engel described himself as a hands-on congressman and whose district office has solved hundreds of community problems and helped thousands of people. “I believe that every problem solved, whether large or small, improves all of our lives,” he said.
He said he has fought to preserve and create jobs, make health care affordable for all Americans and to protect and improve Social Security and Medicare.
“I have brought back tens of millions in Federal funds to the Bronx and Westchester,” Engel said. “These funds have resulted in road and highways repairs, school improvements, grants for fire and police departments and for community health services.”
