We figure both will accept at least one of them.
HAVERSTRAW NY — Let’s now be serious. With the November 3 election approaching, Rockland News is calling on both candidates for New York State Senate District 38 — incumbent Republican State Senator Bill Weber and Democratic challenger and Nyack Mayor Joe Rand — to participate in at least one public, moderated debate before voters cast their ballots.
We want to be clear upfront: This is our editorial position advocating for a debate, not an endorsement of either candidate. We like both of these elected officials, and have had them regularly on our Rockland News podcast to talk about the issues related to their Governmental responsibilities, as well as provide vital community updates.
But debates are important for voters to help formulate their decisions on election day. They always have been, and they always shall be.
We have also called upon our colleagues from the Rockland Report, and from the Rockland County Times, to also advocate for this debate.
These two candidates bring different political backgrounds, governing records and policy positions to the race. A direct debate would give voters an opportunity to hear those differences explained in the same room, under the same rules, with each candidate receiving equal time to answer questions and respond to the other.
Numerous Calls for Quote/Response Ignored
Rockland News reported on October 1 that Rand said he had accepted debate or candidate-forum invitations from Rockland Community College, Rockland News and Rockland Daily. Nyack News & Views subsequently reported the same three invitations and Rand’s willingness to participate.
As of October 7, Rockland News’s review of publicly available reporting did not locate a public announcement confirming that Weber had accepted any of those debate invitations. We reached out to Senator Weber’s campaign team for comment on that same day, and although communications were sent back and forth in the form of text messages, no actual response to the debate challenge was received, despite approximately four interchanges. Those were fun.
We should also note that this does not establish Weber’s private communications or scheduling discussions with any organization, or by any of his campaign staff; it means only that a public acceptance was not found in the sources reviewed.
Whatever arrangements may be taking place behind the scenes, Rockland News believes a debate between both candidates would serve the public interest. Especially when the Office of Senate District 38 is a steering agent for billions of dollars of money over the past 12 years – for much of Rockland County.
What New York State Senate District 38 Does
New York State Senate District 38 is one of 63 districts represented in the State Senate. Its senator participates in making state law, serves on legislative committees, votes on legislation and has a vote on New York’s annual state budget. The Senate works with the State Assembly and governor to enact, amend or repeal state laws; the governor submits the Executive Budget, which is then reviewed and acted upon by the Legislature. As currently configured, District 38 is represented by Bill Weber and includes the Rockland County towns of Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown and Ramapo. Stony Point is currently outside District 38.
For Rockland County residents, the office is therefore important not only because of legislation involving statewide subjects such as taxes, education, utilities, housing, public safety and health care, but also because the senator can advocate during the budget and legislative process for programs affecting Rockland. That can include school aid, highway and infrastructure funding, libraries, municipalities, public-safety programs and other grants.
It is important, however, to distinguish advocacy from unilateral control: a state senator does not personally control a pool of state money. Many appropriations require approval of both legislative houses and the governor, while many grants and school-aid payments are distributed through statutory formulas or state agencies.
Billions in State Funding Flow Through the Budget Process
One way to measure the financial importance of Albany to Rockland is to examine state school aid, for which New York publishes detailed county-by-county records. State budget records show Rockland’s public school districts receiving approximately $200.3 million in total state school aid in 2014-15. By 2017-18, the county total was approximately $239.7 million, rising to about $288.7 million in 2021-22 and approximately $432.9 million in 2023-24. For the 2025-26 school year, the state’s aid tables put Rockland County’s total at approximately $522.9 million.
Taken together, the annual state school-aid figures indicate that roughly $3.5 billion to $3.7 billion in state education aid alone has been directed to Rockland County’s school districts over the 12 school years from 2014-15 through 2025-26. That figure should be regarded as an approximate measure of scale rather than money personally “secured” by any one senator. It also does not include the substantial additional state funding received during the same period for roads and bridges, municipal governments, libraries, public safety, economic development, environmental projects and other programs. For example, state records show nearly $4 million allocated in 2017 alone for Rockland-area road repairs, while the State Comptroller’s Open Book database records numerous separate Rockland County grants for criminal justice, homeland security and other purposes.
The Candidates
Bill Weber, Senate Dist. 38 (Incumbent)
Weber was elected to the State Senate in November 2022 and took office in January 2023. He was reelected in 2024. New York State Senate records identify him as the Republican and Conservative representative for District 38, which includes Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown and Ramapo. His current term ends at the conclusion of this calendar year.
Weber currently serves as the ranking member of the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee and the Disabilities Committee. He is also a member of the Children and Families, Consumer Protection, Education and Finance committees. Before entering the Senate, Weber worked as a chief financial officer and is a New York State certified public accountant.
His official legislative record includes a number of bills dealing specifically with Rockland County.
In 2026, Weber sponsored legislation extending limits on tax shifts among property classes in Clarkstown; the measure was signed into law in July. He sponsored similar legislation for Haverstraw that was signed in September, while an Orangetown measure passed the Senate.
Weber also sponsored a 2025 measure authorizing Rockland County to continue imposing an additional sales and compensating-use tax, which was signed into law. More recently, Weber introduced legislation to designate the Nature Center at Rockland Lake State Park as the “Lauren Shields Nature Center.” The Senate’s legislative database lists that bill as being in the Rules Committee.
Local reporting has also covered Weber’s advocacy involving transportation and public facilities. The Rockland County Times reported this year on the planned $16 million Route 304 repaving project and on more than $1.6 million in state library construction funding awarded to libraries across the district.
Weber has also championed several local events, such as the NYS Blood Drive, as well as the Senior Fair held at SUNY Rockland for the past several years – the most recent one including approximately 200 vendors.
Joe Rand, Mayor of Village of Nyack (Challenger)
The Village of Nyack’s official records state that Rand has served on the Village Board since January 2021 – a time when COVID was still a major concern all throughout Rockland County. Rand became mayor following the November 2023 election, and the Village currently lists his mayoral term as ending December 31, 2027.
Prior to his entrance into public office, Joe helped grow Rockland’s largest real estate brokerage into one of the largest employers in Rockland County, with over 150 employees and 1,200 agents in the region.
One of the largest state-funded initiatives undertaken during Rand’s tenure has been the Village’s participation in the NY Forward downtown revitalization program.
New York State awarded Nyack $4.5 million through NY Forward in March 2025. Rand subsequently served as co-chair of Nyack’s local planning committee, which developed the Village’s strategic investment plan. In May 2026, the state announced nine Nyack projects that would divide the $4.5 million award among downtown, waterfront, business, arts, tourism and other improvements.
The Village has also developed a climate vulnerability and adaptation plan during Rand’s administration, addressing issues including flooding and climate resilience. The Village’s official 2026 plan identifies Rand and the Village Board among the government leadership involved in the project.
Rand has championed many local initiatives in Nyack, such as annual Nyack Holiday Event Guide, which brings tourism and commerce into the Village.
With two degrees from Georgetown University and a degree earned from Stanford Law School, Rand previously served as a federal judicial clerk, litigation attorney, and law professor.
Rand has also been generally responsive to residents and visitors, often communicating directly with those that have questions or concerns regarding Village ongoings. He also showed communication responsiveness during emergency situations, such as a recent fire that broke out in two separate apartment complexes on the same day, which required approximately one dozen families to be safely relocated from their homes.
Voters Should Hear the Candidates Side by Side
The campaign has already demonstrated that Weber and Rand differ substantially on several public issues.
Earlier this year, for example, Rockland News reported sharply different positions from the two candidates regarding proposed Rockland County restrictions on cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Weber opposed the proposal and argued for cooperation with federal authorities in criminal cases, while Rand expressed conditional support for limits on cooperation and criticized aspects of federal immigration enforcement. Article here
Other subjects deserve the same direct comparison: property taxes and affordability, utility costs, housing, education funding, road and transportation infrastructure, public safety, immigration, state spending, responsible development, data centers, environmental policy and the amount of state funding returned to Rockland County.
Those issues should not have to be evaluated solely through campaign advertising, news releases, social media posts or separate appearances where candidates never have to answer the same question.
A properly structured debate would allow a neutral moderator to ask both candidates identical substantive questions, followed by reasonable rebuttal and response periods. Claims involving budgets, legislation or government actions could be tied to public records wherever possible.
The purpose would not be to manufacture confrontation. It would be to provide comparison.
The Invitation Should Remain Open
Joe Rand has already publicly stated he is willing to debate. Given the importance of the Office of Sen Dist. 38, Bill Weber (or his campaign) should respond to the debate challenge, with reasonable accommodations made for scheduling and format.
Rockland News believes the location and sponsoring organization are ultimately less important than having both candidates present. Whether the event is organized by Rockland News, Rockland Community College, another local news organization or a nonpartisan community institution, voters would benefit from seeing Weber and Rand answer the same questions before Election Day.
Weber has an established State Senate record that voters should be able to question him about directly. Rand has a municipal record and a set of proposals for state government that should receive the same scrutiny.
The voters of State Senate District 38 will ultimately decide who represents them in Albany. Rockland News believes those voters should have an opportunity to see Bill Weber and Joe Rand together in formal debate, answering the same questions, defending their records and explaining what they intend to do during the next term.
There is still time to make that happen. We suggest before October 24th, considering that is the day when early voting opens in Rockland.
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