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Chris Day announces he is running for Orangetown Supervisor at Braunsdorf Park in Pearl River Jan. 30, 2017. Peter Carr/lohud

Chris Day announces he is running for Orangetown Supervisor at Braunsdorf Park in Pearl River Jan. 30, 2017.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)Buy Photo

PEARL RIVER - A Republican candidatehas become the first to enter the November racefor Orangetown supervisor.

Chris Day, son of County Executive Ed Day, announced his candidacy for supervisor Monday. Flanked by Republican politicians andsupporters holding campaign signs bearing his name,Chris Day said the town's economic challenges pushed him to enter the race.

"We have so many challenges we are facing, I'm not going to sit back and wait for someone else to lead usthrough those challenges," Day said. "I'm going to step up to the plate and get things done."

Day becomes the first candidate of either party to enter the supervisor's race. Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewarthas already announcedhe will not seek a fourth term.

ORANGETOWN: Supervisor won't seek re-election in 2017

Chris Day announces he is running for Orangetown Supervisor at Braunsdorf Park in Pearl River Jan. 30, 2017.(Photo: Peter Carr/The Journal News)

The Democratic supervisor currently leads aboard with a majority ofRepublicans: Paul Valentine, Thomas Diviny and Denis Troy.Gerald "Gerry" Bottari is the only other Democrat on the board.

Chris Day is aformer Army Ranger captain who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. Helives in Palisades with his wife, Jennifer, and two young children with another on the way.Hepreviouslyran an unsuccessful Congressional campaign in 2014 to unseat Nita Lowey, D-Harrison.

While standing below the flagpole near the Pearl River train station, Day said the issues driving his campaign willbe preserving the quality of life in Orangetown, which includesfighting against overdevelopment and securing the school system; supporting law enforcement and protecting the town's youth against theongoing opioid epidemic; cuttingtaxes; and improving town services and infrastructure.

"I want to make sure our community is vibrant. ... We've got to try to bring in young families who want to be a part of this community so our seniorshave that equity in their homes preserved," said Day, 32. "And we've got to preserve the character of our community: Make sure it's safe, make sure the people who are moving here want to be a part of our community and not push everyone out, and we've got to really focus on keeping those taxes down."

Lawrence Garvey, chairman of the Rockland Republican Committee, said it was time for a younger generation to take over.

Although Orangetown is home to Democratic bastions in the Nyacks, Garvey said thereis also astrong Republican contingent in the town that couldcarry Day to victory.

"We need a new direction in Orangetown," Garvey said.

Among the other politicians at the announcementwereValentine,Diviny and Troy; and Rockland Republican Legislators Vincent Tyer andPatrick Moroney, both of Pearl River.

Diviny's and Troy's terms are up this year, and both men said they plan on seeking re-election.

Troy said it was time for a new supervisor inOrangetown.

"From my parochial perspective, anybody but Andy Stewart is a welcomed addition," Troy said.

Calls to the Rockland Democratic Committee seeking comment about the supervisor race were not returned.

Chris Day currently owns theWest Nyack car wash with ex-Clarkstown police Sgt. Michael Garvey, who is not related to Lawrence Garvey. Michael Garveywas found to be the source of the nearly $100,000 contributionthe state Reform Party spent getting Republican George Hoehmann elected Clarkstown supervisor.

Chris Day said his business partnership with Michael Garvey wouldnot affect the race, and he will not have any formal position in his campaign.

"Mike Garvey is a friend of mine," Chris Day said. "I've known him from church. I asked him to invest in a business. He did, and we're business partners. I'm the one that announced it. It's never been hidden."

(Photo: 2003 submitted photo)

Ed Day is entering the final year of his term.The Republican county executive was elected in 2013, and has yet to announce whether he will seekre-election.

Chris Day said he managed his father's campaign in 2013, andsupported his fiscal approach to governing. But Chris Dayadded he disagrees with his father on other points and the two would berunning "completely separate operations."

"I'm also going to bring my own independentview to things. ... Where we disagree, we'll disagree," Chris Day said referring to his father. "Obviously wecan't change our names, but we are both individual people running for individual offices."

Twitter:@mikedonofrio_

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