Photo courtesy of Thomas Scheuer
Inspired by fighting mentality, Scheuer helps Jones’ campaign
With local primaries (NY on June 23, NJ on July 7 and CT on Aug. 11) right around the corner, Tower spoke with Masters students and alumni who have been involved in various candidates' campaigns.
It all started back in the fall of 2019 when Thomas (Buster) Scheuer ‘20 attended a debate at SUNY Purchase between three of the democratic candidates for the NY-17 congressional seat. One of the candidates caught his attention from the get-go: Mondaire Jones (Democrat).
After that debate, Scheuer began reading up on Jones and educating his family on the candidate. By March, not one, but two members of the Scheuer household landed spots on Jones’ campaign team: B. Scheuer as a high school fellow, primarily phone-banking, and his sister Sarah Scheuer ‘18, who is the campaign’s environmental coordinator.
Many of Jones’ supporters have dubbed him as “the only progressive in the race” and B. Scheuer agrees.
He said, “He [Jones] is the only one who has the credibility to run in a progressive lane. These other candidates try to paint themselves as progressives, but ‘pragmatic progressives.’ They don’t try to be progressives until it’s a primary.” B. Scheuer also noted that Jones intended to challenge long-time congresswoman Nita Lowey with his far-left ideals long before she announced she would not be running for reelection back in October.
Jones grew up in Spring Valley, NY (part of NY-17) and his campaign slogan is “policy is personal.” B. Scheuer witnessed the genuine nature of Jones first-hand on multiple occasions and believes that Jones will push for change if he is elected.
“Mondaire will actually give a damn. You can say a lot of nice things about the other candidates, but when push comes to shove, they’re not going to really try to get a Green New Deal or Medicare for all,” he said. “We need someone who’s going to fight for the people of the district and he is doing this because he really cares.”
