A busy night for Westchester politics
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- May
- 21
Not only are Westchester Republicans holding their nominating convention on Tuesday night, but so too are county Conservatives.
Conservative Committee Chairwoman Gail Burns announced today that the convention is set for May 27th at 7 p.m. at the Polish Community Center in Yonkers. The GOP’s is being held at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm by Glenn Blain.
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Did Greg Ball actually threaten Putnam County Conservative Chairman James Maxwell? I heard that Mr. Ball said if to M. Mazweel, “Ifyou were 10 years younger, I would take you outside and kick your ass”, Any truth to that?
That is interesting – James Maxwell is an older man, but he works out every day and is in good condition, even for his age he would put up a good fight.
It appears that Tony Scanipieco’s leadership may be in jeopardy. Mr. Scanipieco has gone with Mr. Ball and he knew many of his committee members were against Greg Ball and Mr. Scanipieco went out and got proxy’s and still could not save Mr. Ball. Mr. Scanipieco should now consider resigning after the defeat he took this evening, Mr. Scanipieco picked the wrong fight and he was taught a tough lesson. Unforunately, Mr. Scanipiecos’s may cost him his Chairmanship and the nice car and $100,000. job that comes with it. When you live by the sword, you die by the sword!
Gouldman Accepts Putnam County Nomination Promises to Bring Common Sense & A Dose of Reality To
Bill Gouldman stood before the Putnam County Republican Convention and accepted its nomination for State Assembly.
“People are being financially squeezed, facing hardship that has been unseen since the Great Depression. Policies that have caused or contributed to today’s hardships must be changed,” asserted the Putnam Valley resident.
“We need a new era, a new philosophy for New York; one that achieves more, cuts taxes, and stops politicians from writing blank checks with our money. As your nominee and as your State Assemblyman I’ll work hard every day to earn and keep your trust, Gouldman said.
It would appear to an outsider that Chairman Anthony Scannipieco’s leadership was challenged and he and Greg Ball were defeated last night. It was no secret that Chairman Scannipieco was actively pushing for Greg Ball and he was trying to collect as many proxies as possible prior to the vote. The real question now is where does the Putnam County Republican Party Leadership go from here? Does Chairman Scannipieco now come out publicly with his Board of Directors and fully support John Degnan or does he continue with his support for Greg Ball? The Chairman has made a bad political move by going against the wishes of the majority of the Republican Committee, the Chairman and everyone knew going in that the actual voting committee members wanted John Degnan and the Chairman refused to acknowledge their wishes. The Chairman needs to come off his high horse and start listening to the committee members who actually are the ones who vote and make the decisions. The days of Chairman Scannipieco saying this is who I want and this is who you are voting for are long gone.
If in fact Mr. Ball threated someone and he was going to kick their &$%#, that was really dumb. We all have had it drumbed into us that Mr. Ball attended the US Airforce Academy and we know the physical demands are tough. But, Mr. Ball has been out of that for quite some time now and the only thing he exercies are his mouth and lap top computer to send/speak out much misguided information.
Physically threaten someone??? Who is Ball kidding…if this is true. But who knows…there are so many different spins on storys from the Ball Camp, that no one knows what to beleive anymore.
Lets hope Westchester joins with Putnam and not endorce Ball.
In the rumor mill today from No. Westchester Democrats, Yorktown Councilmember Jim Martorano plans to announce his candidacy for State Assembly. Martorano was previously a candidate for Congress in 2006, although the nomination eventually went to John Hall.
This makes for an interesting 3-way race:
Democrats: Martorano, Degnan
Republicans: Ball, Degnan
Conservatives: Martorano, Ball, Degnan
Independence: Martorano, Ball, Degnan
W/F: Martorano
If the above posting is true – Martorano wins.
The Dems will vote for Martorano and the Reps will split the Reps vote.
We don’t need phony Democrats (Degnan) or a superminority member (Ball) who has no effect whatsoever, we need REAL DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP… Call Jim TODAY and urge him to run.
Jim Martorano was first elected to the Yorktown Board in 1991, making him the first Democrat elected in twelve years. There he has worked across party lines and built a reputation as an independent voice who gets the job done. Jim has put his knowledge and experience as a father and trial lawyer to good use for his constituents. These are only some of the reasons why the voters have elected him each and every time his name has appeared on the ballot.
As Councilman he held a twelve hour telethon to raise money for a community center, expanded affordable housing for seniors, served on two public school district committees to fight teen drinking and drug abuse, and consistently fought for fiscally responsible policy and progressive social values. In 2004, he helped write and lobby for a bill in the state house to protect victims of Lyme Disease.
It is Jim’s dedication to his constituents, not his political party, which has earned him the respect and admiration of people from both parties and all walks of life. It was no surprise when the Republican Supervisor twice appointed him her deputy. Jim’s bipartisan approach and natural leadership skills have steered the local government away from personal attacks or partisan bickering and toward reasoned discussion.
Jim has worked for nearly thirty years as a lawyer with the Bronx Legal Aid Society. He is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and has lectured in twelve states on scientific evidence and expert testimony. Jim has trained hundreds of lawyers on trail skills, evidence, and summation. He has been published in various law journals and is a guest jurist for Cardozo Law School and Fordham University.
Jim attended New York City’s Fordham University undergraduate program for Philosophy and was one of the first students to teach a college level course. He graduated from Fordham University’s law program in 1974 and began his legal career in the Hudson Valley as a private attorney.
Jim is the proud father of two sons, Robert and James Jr. Both grew up in Yorktown where they attended the local public school and were active in their community. Jim was the baseball coach for the Shrub Oak Athletic Club for more than twenty years.
Jim Martorano is a great candidate. He will probably win if he runs. Then the Republicans loose another Assembly Seat. William Gouldman the Republican Assembly candidate that is on the Western side of Putnam could beat Sandra Galef, so if that is the scenario Putnam County keeps 1 Democrat and 1 Republican
Is anyone as outraged as me that Mike Spano (who always knew he was a democrat) is going to be on the CONSERVATIVE line as well as the democratic line? Aren’t the two polar opposites? I am sick of all these backroom deals. His brother Nick is making sure that no one in the Republican party runs against his brother. And what is Gail Burns thinking? Once again, thank you Gale Burns for making Conservatives feel like idiots.
Matt – Get enough conservative behind you and take the Conservative Party out of her hands. It is not that difficult to do.
mike spano is a conservative democrat…never was a liberal
republican ..just happen to run as one….you guys have these kinds of problems on an on and off basis…maybe you
should stop cross endorsements of major parties by minor
parties…that is where the problem is…you can be a true
conservative..run your own candidates like they do in 46 states
Agreed. Mike Spano is far more conservative then Willis Stephens, who voted with the Assembly Democrats more then the Republicans, and was pro-choice, yet Stephens got the conservative nod over and over. Criticizing their endorsement of Spano seems like hypocrisy when you consider that.
It seems like 3d parties in New York exist to provide a route for patronage and money for certain people that would not otherwise be available, and no ideological reason.
Mike Spano has everyone confused, including himself, let alone the average Joe who goes to the ballot box. Silver runs that Assembly like Mussolini and Mike is a foot soldier trying to make sergeant any way he can. My troubled opinion is that his vote will go to wherever it will do him the most good.
its not about mike…he is a democrat in a democratic majority..ie he can do more for yonkers than andrea who
is a democrat in a republican majority house..but RE
has it right…3rd parties like the consv and ind
party are in it for jobs, favors, and whatever else
they want…without naming names everyone in westchester
knows who the minor party players are…these people should
be absolutely able to have whatever party affiliation they
choose…but they should not be able to cross endorse major
party candidates..it leads to too many opportunities to abuse the system by parties whose vote totals on
election day far outnumber their registration…ie
they wield power far in excess of who they represent
because they present another ballot line…there is
a reason new york is one of only five states to allow
this to happen…and it needs to stop or the two party
system in new york will be in deep trouble
A Democrat “in name-only,” if in fact that is what he is, will get little or nothing from Silver. If he doesn’t toe the big-spending, vote-my-way-or-else line and whatever other line Silver thrusts forth, he’s toast on favors.
you need to get used to the fact that westchester only
elects democrats..look at the numbers ..registration
is 100 m plus…in the old days reps had that and they
couldnt’t lose..now the dems have it ..and the same
rules apply
I’m used to it. I’m used to it. That doesn’t change the reality of the Silver stranglehold.
Ed knows. He is frank, as always.
You’ve got to get Shelly Silver, the poster boy for corruption in New York State politics, out of office.
While we’re at it, throw ALL the bums out. Maybe excluding my pal Mike Spano, and Sen. Morahan over in Rockland. And also exclude from my “throw the bums out” equation Greg Ball: anyone who can antagonize as many comfortable establishment people as Greg Ball has managed to do in two short years can’t be all bad. In fact, he has something going for him.
Otherwise, a “hit list” of corrupt, “go along to get along” New York State elected officials should make for a clean slate.
Mike Spano as a conservative Democrat? That is complete spin. The guy will do everything to get elected. He was a Republican until he decided it would be easier to get elected a Democrat. If it was about helping Yonkers he would have switched years ago as the Democrats have had a majority in the assembly since he was elected. He is not principled and the consevative party looks silly endorsing him when they would not endorse Pirro. Spano, only cares about pork and THAT IS NOT CONSERVATIVE.
you don’t get it..the conservative party in new york
is not conservative..they only care about jobs…and
leverage….abolish cross endorsements NOW
If by “jobs” we mean a few judges of the conservative bent, who favor some social and fiscal responsibility, this admittedly fractured system may be the only way to effectuate those necessary participants in the body politic. There is a reason, one would think, why this party evolved in the first place. When the Republicans start to walk and talk, and act, and adjudicate as the Democrats do, the Conservatives are the sheep dogs who keep them somewhere within the corral of reason.
RE: Conservative Party is here to stay. Get use to it…It is not going away.
Jim, the conservative party is not a conservative party, so I will not vote for its line of candidates. If you keep endorsing liberals like John Degnan and Willis Stephens at the local level, it doesn’t matter how many conservative position papers you put up on the state website.
If a candidate runs within a county, then it is only the county Party who can endorse.
If a candidate runs outside the county line then it is the State Executive Committee who has the say.
Thus that is why Bruno kept the district lines for Senator Spano “within” the county. So as Mike Long would not strip Spano of the endorsement.
and a lot of good that did mr spano…with Mike Long
threatening to strip the endorsement on the basis of
a single issue…pro-life..why should a minor party
be able to wield such power….why do only four
other states permit this..and right now Jim
the Independence Party has more to say about who
wins elections in this county than the conservative
Party because candidates who only have rep/conv cannot
win..if they add IND maybe they can win..its a double
tail wagging two dogs now
Why is Joseph Bruno helping Mike Spano get the conservative endorsement? Spano, is no longer a Republican/
Joe Bruno is no longer a Republican. He’s just a power broker and patronage merchant.
And which of them isn’t, each within the bailiwick of his potency?