"I'm Enormously Grateful": Senator-Elect Joe Rand Thanks Community at Chesed 24/7 Fundraising Event

By Rockland Daily Staff

Less than 24 hours after winning his State Senate seat, Joe Rand was already back among community members. Joining Chesed 24/7's fundraising event last night, the senator-elect thanked residents for their support and reflected on the relationships he built in Ramapo throughout the campaign.

Assemblyman Aron Wieder also addressed the gathering, welcoming Rand as a future partner in Albany and speaking about the importance of having a senator who stands with the community.

"I don't remember the last time in Rockland County where you had a New York State senator-elect, a day after the election, stand here openly in public to say how proud he is to stand with the Orthodox Jewish community in Rockland County," Wieder said.

"I want to first of all just thank you all because I know a lot of people here supported me," Rand told those gathered. "A lot of you are from areas that supported me, and I'm enormously grateful."

Rand said he had spent 11 months visiting Ramapo's Jewish communities and getting to know their residents. He described being elected and receiving their support as "quite an honor."

Turning to the election results, Rand credited those in the room with helping him win Ramapo, saying others had doubted he could carry the town outright.

"They did not think that I would be able to win Ramapo outright, which we did, and that was because of a lot of you," he said. "So thank you all very much for that support."

Wieder described Rand as someone who would be "a friend to all communities, including the Jewish community," and spoke about the value of having a representative in the State Senate majority.

"Being in the majority is where you can be extremely effective and helpful to represent your constituents," Wieder said.

Wieder also recalled getting to know Rand while serving together on a committee involved in searching for a college president. He praised Rand's election victory and suggested that more could lie ahead.

"I want to be a prophet today," Wieder said. "I have a feeling that this might not even be your last stop."