Holocaust survivor, pediatrician, hospital administrator and former Scarsdale Mayor Miriam Levitt-Flisser is challenging career-politician County Executive George Latimer to represent Westchester’s 16th Congressional District.
Miriam Flisser, MD, completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Levitt Flisser’s responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
I am a patriot and a pediatrician — not a politician. I was born in war torn Eastern Europe to Jewish Parents who fought back against the Nazis. When I was a child I was smuggled out of Communist Eastern Europe the bottom of a mail truck and my first memory of our country was seeing the Statue of Liberty from a liberty ship. That is something that stays with you for life.
Raised in the Bronx, I became a pediatrician and have dedicated my life to helping others. I have lived in Westchester for 40 years, raised my family, and practiced medicine here. I have served as the Chief of Pediatrics for 15 years at Lawrence Hospital, a voluntary position, and was the first woman elected Chief of Staff.
When I served as a Village Mayor of Scarsdale, I learned to listen and build consensus. During my terms as a member of the Village Board, I served as Fire Commissioner, Police Commissioner, and Municipal Services Committee Chair. In my role as a public school medical director, I kept classrooms open despite COVID in order to ensure the best education for our children.
In Congress, my only personal and political interests will be yours: a brighter, more secure future for America. I know that in our great diversity, there is great strength because we have shared goals: safety in our homes and on our streets, economic security, and quality education for our children.
Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What [do] you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?
- Having lived the American Dream, I know that legal immigration helps make America a great nation. However, illegal immigration has undermined our safety, our health care system, our school system, and our justice system. An undefended border lets criminals decide who enters our country instead of responsible officials. Uncontrolled illegal immigration brings drugs, crime, homelessness, and disease and undermines our ability to care for our own citizens. We should welcome properly vetted immigrants who come here to seek a better life – but protect our national security and our community’s safety by securing our borders against wholesale drug importation, gang members, and dangerous terrorists. In Congress, I will
- Our leafy suburbs are an ideal example of a home environment suited for family life and raising kids. Our communities embody the American Dream – and we should keep it that way. A decade ago, I was moved to enter public life when invited by my neighbors to join the fight against a plan to build a giant apartment building over the commuter train tracks in our neighborhood. During my term as mayor, I successfully led opposition against Federal programs requiring cancellation of local housing laws; and preserved our local control. As your next Congresswoman, I will fight against federal overreach and to preserve our suburban communities.
- It is clear to anyone who goes into a supermarket that under the current administration, your dollar buys less. We need to return to common sense economic policies – incentivize people to create jobs and to buy American, instead of irresponsible and reckless spending policies. Sensible economic policies will make your dollar go farther; blaming potato chip manufacturers for reacting to inflation is theater, not government.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am personally passionate about Parental rights. As a mother, grandmother and pediatrician I know that children belong to their parents — not the government. Our schools should teach math, English, history, science, and art – not gender theory and sexuality.
Parents have a right to know what is being taught to their children and who is teaching them. We
should not allow minors who cannot vote, drive, or buy tobacco or alcohol to decide to have gender
transformation surgery, and we should not allow schools to be the decision-makers for our children.
I am also very passionate about standing with Israel and our other allies across the globe.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Integrity, Honesty and Patriotism. Elected officials should be accountable to the people they serve and should always act with integrity.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
I think the core responsibility of being a US Representative is being the community represented voice in government. This means always sticking up for the people and putting their interests first.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like my legacy to be that people knew I served our country as a patriot not a politician. We have a problem that we have too many career politicians in government and not enough regular people.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
I support term limits whole heartily. Congress is meant to be a place to bring your ideas and make an impact and then move on not a place that someone should be in for decades.
The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?
Simple. I will work day and night to lower our taxes.
What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?
The Westchester County Republican Committee unanimously endorsed my campaign.
What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?
I think that government should be transparent and accountable to We the People. We should have oversight over the out of control spending caused by the radical socialists in Congress and the Biden administration. ##