Yonkers Councilwoman Shanae Williams announced her intentions to run for Westchester County Clerk at the Yonkers Democratic Party Executive Committee Meeting, Wednesday, December 17th.
“I am running for Westchester County Clerk because I believe that the people of this county want change,” Councilwoman Williams shares with Black Westchester. “They want a government that works for them, including the County Clerk’s Office. What they don’t want is a career politician who’s looking to pad his pension after receiving a huge political pay raise.
Councilwoman Williams believes she is the right candidate to serve as the next Westchester County Clerk.
“In this day and age we have to start thinking about future generations and the best ways to serve them,” Councilwoman Williams shares with Black Westchester. “The County Clerk’s Office has a wealth of information. I believe that I am the right candidate to help bring equitable access to the information that this office has, which the people need, especially those in marginalized, under-served communities.”
Born in Jamaica and immigrated to Yonkers as a child, Shanae Williams, 29, was appointed to the Yonkers City Council on January 1, 2018, is the younger of two siblings. She has a very large extended family, as her mother is one of 13 children, she is proud to have a very close knit, God-fearing family here in Yonkers. Williams attended Yonkers Public Schools and has been a resident of First Council District for over 15 years. She is a Democratic District Leader, a member of the Hudson River Community Association, NAACP, Westchester Black Women Political Caucus, Westchester Young Democrats; Aquehung Women’s Democratic Club, is a former board member of the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Yonkers and served as the liaison to Mayor Mike Spano’s African American Advisory Board.
“My candidacy will give the residents of Westchester County another option, someone who is a young, educated, immigrant that is forward thinking, hard working, independent and full of passion,” Williams continues. “I look forward to connecting with the residents across the county and hopefully gain their support.”
Having been entrenched in government for years, Williams wanted to continue serving the community that she loves and wants to see thrive. There are a lot of changes happening in the first district and she is concerned for everyone who currently lives here and those who are considering moving here. Williams understands the issues and needs of her community and is ready to work hard to find good solutions to enhance the quality of life for her constituents.
Councilmember Williams holds a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New York at Albany and holds the highest GPA Award for the Class of 2011 in the Department of Sociology. Williams interned and then served and as a Business Administrator in the New York State Assembly. Upon graduating undergrad, she then worked full time at City Hall as the Executive Assistant to Mayor Mike Spano at which time Williams obtained her Master of Business Administration with a focus in Leadership from Walden University. She formerly worked as a Multifamily Account Executive for Altice USA.
The Yonkers Democratic Committee did not endorse any candidates at the December 17th meeting. Yonkers Democratic City Committee Chairman Tommy Meier stated there will be a designating convention in early 2021.
The Westchester County Clerk is the oldest elected office in Westchester County, having been established in 1683. The County Clerk’s responsibility is maintaining and preserving the official documents and records. The current Westchester County Clerk is Timothy C. Idoni who has served since January 2006.
