Assemblymember Gary Pretlow Endorses Democrat Lisa Hofflich for New York State Senate District 36
March 7, 2022
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Contact: John Tomlin
914-703-165
Mt. Vernon, New York - New York State Assemblymember Gary Pretlow today announces his endorsement of Democrat Lisa Hofflich for New York State Senate District 36.
As one of Mt. Vernon's most respected leaders and the Dean of the Westchester State Legislative Delegation, Assemblymember Pretlow cited Hofflich's experience and dedication to issues like environmental justice and getting guns off the streets as reasons for his endorsement.
"Lisa has devoted her career to public service. She knows how government works and is focused on the issues that matter to the people of this district like public safety, environmental justice and economic progress. She is the right person for the job in the right moment, and I am proud to endorse her,” said Assemblymember Pretlow.
“It is an honor to receive Assemblymember Pretlow’s endorsement and I thank him for his dedicated service to New York State and the people of Mt. Vernon. I am a mother of five kids and I am running for State Senate to create a better State for them, and all of our children. I have experience on all levels of government, and I know how to harness the power of the collective to bring change. As a State Senator, I’ll work with my future colleagues like Assemblymember Pretlow to get guns off our streets, create an economy that works for all and tackle issues like climate change. These are the issues of our time, and we need leaders in office who know how to get results. That’s who I am,” said Lisa Hofflich, Democratic candidate for New York State Senate District 36.
About Lisa Hofflich
Lisa Hofflich is a mother of five, a wife, a community organizer, and a committed public servant. She’s a progressive change-maker who understands the power of coalition-building and dedicates her life to serving all New Yorkers. She most recently served as US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Lower Hudson Valley Regional Director and Special Advisor on Asian American Pacific Island and human trafficking issues. Lisa is also Chair of the Westchester Asian American Democratic Committee.
Lisa’s passion for serving and caring for others stems from her background as a first-generation immigrant and refugee and the hardships her family faced as a result. She and her parents made a harrowing escape from Vietnam during the Fall of Saigon. They were eventually sponsored by a church in Williston, ND, where the community helped them get back on their feet. They lived in Williston for five years before relocating to Billings, MT. Lisa’s parents struggled to provide her and their younger daughters with a pathway to the American Dream – all while battling racism and poverty. Her father, a lieutenant in the South Vietnamese Air Force before his helicopter was shot down by enemy fire, struggled to provide for his young family by working multiple jobs as a supermarket stocker, restaurant cook, and diesel mechanic. Ultimately, Lisa’s family moved to California when she was 12 years old for more promising opportunities, but she left home to attend college in New York City when she was 17.
Before diving into politics, Lisa was an investigative television news producer for CNBC, WNBC, and Consumer Reports, and an assignment editor for the nationally syndicated show EXTRA. Sharpening her skills as a storyteller was essential for the longtime community organizer and activist who devised, spearheaded, and led statewide policy action campaigns in women’s and children’s issues centered mainly around combatting human trafficking, domestic violence, child abuse, gender equity, and transgender rights.
Prior to joining Senator Gillibrand’s team, Lisa served as Legislative Advisor to both New York State Assembly members Amy Paulin and Sandy Galef. She drafted and successfully pushed bills later signed into laws to secure justice for survivors of sexual assault and harassment, human trafficking victims while advocating for maternal health and closing
the wage gap.
Lisa was a member of the founding coalitions spearheading advocacy for the passage of landmark state laws, including the Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act, the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act. As part of her advocacy work, she has provided testimony in front of the New York
State Senate and participated in New York State Assembly roundtables.
Lisa reactivated and led the Westchester Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW), served on the Executive Committee for NOW New York State, the Board of Directors of the NOW-NYC, and chaired the NOW New York State LGBTQ Task Force. From 2007 to 2015, Lisa was a board member and co-chaired the New York State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior Leagues, a coalition of Junior Leagues representing over 8,000 women throughout the state. Lisa was named one of the New York State Senate’s 2021 Women of Distinction, New York State’s New Abolitionists by the New York State Anti-trafficking Coalition, and honored as a “Mover and Shaker” by the YWCA of White Plains & Central Westchester. She is a former president of the Junior League of Bronxville and served on the boards of the Pelham Art Center, the Bartow-Pell Conservancy in the Bronx, and the Pennington School PTA. She is a fellow of the United Nations Association of New York’s Worldview Institute and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from New York University.
Lisa sees this campaign as an extension of her commitment to our community. She envisions continuing her advocacy for community progress all the way to Albany. As an almost 22-year resident with deep ties to this Senate District, she looks forward to representing the unique concerns of Mount Vernon, Pelham, and the Bronx.
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