NEW YORK 100th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT — On January 5, Paula Elaine Kay was sworn in as the new Assemblywoman for New York’s 100th District, succeeding the retired Aileen Gunther. 

The ceremony took place at the Thompson Town Hall which was packed with local officials and supporters, with the Honorable Judge Anthony Kane administering the oath of office.

Judge Kane led Kay through the oath, during which she pledged to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the state of New York” and to “faithfully discharge the duties and obligations of the office of Member of the Assembly of the State of New York.”

In her inaugural address, Kay thanked her supporters across Sullivan County, emphasizing a commitment to bipartisan collaboration:.

“Everybody came together because that’s what I have talked about since day one... This is about people over politics.” 

Kay said her immediate legislative focus will be on public safety, addressing bail reform. Kay announced the drafting of her first piece of legislation, developed in consultation with the district attorney’s office and the New York State Police, aiming to amend aspects of the current bail reform laws saying, “We need to make people feel safer in their homes, and we have to stop handcuffing our law enforcement.”

New York’s bail reform law, passed in 2019, eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. The goal was to prevent people from being held in jail before trial simply because they couldn’t afford bail. 

While the law was intended to address long standing inequalities in the justice system, it’s been surrounded by controversy ever since. Critics argue that it has contributed to rising crime rates and restricted judges from making decisions based on public safety concerns. Supporters, on the other hand, believe the reforms are a crucial step toward a fairer system, ensuring low-risk individuals aren’t unnecessarily detained.

Kay says her proposal aims to fix parts of the bail reform law that aren’t working, with a focus on balancing public safety and fairness. She stressed the need for a careful, team effort, saying, “We need to do this thoughtfully, working together, with the goal of making our communities feel safer.”

Beyond bail reform, Kay said her other priorities, including addressing housing, healthcare, and childcare shortages in Sullivan County. She mentioned efforts to support the establishment of a Head Start program in the area and plans to relocate her office to 461 Broadway in Monticello to have better accessibility for constituents.

Town of Thompson Supervisor William Rieber added “I’ve never seen an election process run this way... Everybody pulled together. Paula, you ran a great campaign and you brought a good name to politics.”

Kay said called for continued community engagement: “You’re here today and this is fantastic and I appreciate it, but you need to be here with me tomorrow and the next day and next month... We are here for you.”