U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, center, with Ramapo Town Board member Daniel Friedman, left, state Sen. David Carlucci, Nyack Mayor Jen Laird-White and Rockland County Legislature member Barry Kantrowitz / Nyack Free Press

Veteran lawmaker U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey must have made note of Chris Day’s recent announcement to run against her. The U.S. Congressional District 17 representative volleyed back a clean shot of her own with a campaign kick off event Sunday as Lowey celebrated with Rockland County Democrats rallying to show support.

“She’s a ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee who has shown she can produce for her district,” Staviski said in Nyack Free Press. “She showed that with Sandy aid.”

While Lowey’s challenger Chris Day, R-New City, held his first fundraiser Monday night at Mizu Hibachi in New City, Lowey demonstrated the big hill Day must climb in order to roam the halls of Congress. The senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Lowey said President Obama’s 2015 fiscal budget reflects initiatives vital to the Lower Hudson Valley, including highway, rail and mass transit investment as well additional money for Westchester/Rockland Head Start programs, K-12 education initiatives, and small business loans.

“I look forward to working across the aisle to conduct appropriate oversight over federal spending, evaluate the president’s budget request, and develop Appropriations bills that invest in priorities critical to Lower Hudson Valley families,” Lowey said.

Just Tuesday, President Obama sent Congress a $3.9 trillion budget request that includes $402 billion over four years on U.S. highway, rail, and mass transit — all much needed areas of infrastucture investment in the Lower Hudson Valley.

“The FY2015 budget and appropriations process offers Congress its best opportunity in years to reject the politics of brinkmanship and crisis management, and instead fulfill our responsibility to invest in our future, create and protect jobs, and support services on which American families rely,” Lowey added.

Day, who is the son of Rockland County Executive Ed Day, said he will run as an independent Republican. His primary campaign issues involve HUD involvement in Westchester zoning, RLIUPA regulations in Rockland, Common Core, federal grants for the new Tappan Zee Bridge and federal funding for local infrastructure.”

The election takes in in November.