Richard H. Becker
Democratic · NY · Town Supervisor, Town of Cortlandt
Cortlandt town supervisor since 2022 and a cardiologist and former hospital executive who served 14 years on the Town Board. His priorities include wastewater treatment upgrades and more climate projects such as electric sanitation trucks and curbside compost pickup.
Where Richard H. Becker stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (6 records), Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (1 record), Housing Affordability (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (4 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 6 support
Joined Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg at a Verplanck rally urging Gov. Hochul to stop Project Maple, a planned expansion of the Algonquin gas pipeline near Indian Point.
June 17, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: theexaminernews.com
Hosted a 'Save the River' rally in Verplanck against Holtec's plan to release Indian Point wastewater into the Hudson. He called for a one-year pause while other options were studied.
May 6, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: theexaminernews.com
Was authorized by a unanimous Town Board to send a letter opposing the release of Indian Point's contaminated water into the Hudson River.
March 20, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Announced a deal, approved by the Town Board on Sept. 20, 2022, to spend $380,000 from the Open Space Fund to preserve 38 acres on Mill Court once planned for homes and a solar farm. He said the town paid half the asking price.
September 20, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: theexaminernews.com
Voted with the Town Board for a program paying town workers $125 per COVID-19 vaccine shot. He said about 20% of the town's workforce was still unvaccinated, which strained services.
January 11, 2022Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: theexaminernews.com
Seconded and voted for a package of resolutions that included buying an open-space preserve of about 100 acres, which voters could challenge by petition. All members voted yes.
November 14, 2017Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 4 oppose
Voted with a unanimous Town Board for a $51 million 2025 budget that raised town taxes 3.6%, under the state cap. He and other elected officials took no raise for 2025.
December 19, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: theexaminernews.com
Announced a deal, approved by the Town Board on Sept. 20, 2022, to spend $380,000 from the Open Space Fund to preserve 38 acres on Mill Court once planned for homes and a solar farm. He said the town paid half the asking price.
September 20, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: theexaminernews.com
Voted with the Town Board for a program paying town workers $125 per COVID-19 vaccine shot. He said about 20% of the town's workforce was still unvaccinated, which strained services.
January 11, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: theexaminernews.com
Seconded and voted for a package of resolutions that included buying an open-space preserve of about 100 acres, which voters could challenge by petition. All members voted yes.
November 14, 2017Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 1 support
Voted against opting Cortlandt out of both cannabis stores and cannabis lounges; that motion failed 2-2. He then moved laws, passed 3-1, banning on-site cannabis lounges and limiting stores to parts of Route 6.
December 6, 2021Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 1 support
Voted with a unanimous Town Board to create a Medical Oriented District near the Route 202 hospital. It cleared the way for a medical office building and a project with assisted-living units and townhouses.
March 20, 2023Supports Housing Affordability
Source: theexaminernews.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Got unanimous board approval to sign an amended Indian Point settlement contract. Under it, New York gave the town $7 million to share with Buchanan for sewer work in the Buchanan and Montrose area.
January 11, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Track record — General
General · 6 records
Was endorsed by the New York League of Conservation Voters for re-election as Cortlandt town supervisor in 2026.
July 29, 2026
Source: nylcv.org
Publicly objected to plans to land the Clean Path NY power cable at Lents Cove in Buchanan, near a gas pipeline and spent nuclear fuel at Indian Point. He wrote to the developers proposing Roa Hook instead.
July 19, 2022
Source: theexaminernews.com
Backed a board-approved deal to pay his predecessor, Linda Puglisi, $6,500 a month as a consultant for up to 10 months. After public criticism, he and Puglisi dropped the deal about a week later.
January 19, 2022
Source: theexaminernews.com
Voted for a nine-month pause on large ground-mounted solar farms, which passed unanimously. He said cutting down trees for solar did not seem green and the town needed a townwide policy on where solar goes.
September 29, 2021
Source: theexaminernews.com
Moved to adopt Local Law 8 of 2018, which set rules for solar energy systems in Cortlandt. It passed unanimously.
December 11, 2018
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Voted with the full Town Board to adopt Envision Cortlandt, the town's 2016 sustainable comprehensive master plan.
March 15, 2016
Source: townofcortlandtny.gov
Past race Richard H. Becker ran in:
- Town Supervisor, Town of Cortlandt · November 3, 2026 · Cortlandt town, New York · incumbent