Politics on the Hudson

Now that Assemblyman Richard Brodsky is running for state  attorney general, Westchester County Legislator Tom Abinanti is running for the Assembly. He’s expected to announce tomorrow.

After meeting Abinanti at the state Democratic Convention — where Brodsky and four others secured lines on a Sept. 14 ballot — the Greenburgh Democrat told Politics on the Hudson that he is indeed running. And reform is on his mind.

“My history shows my concern for reforming government,” Abinanti said during a meeting in the lobby at Hilton Rye Town where the Democrats held their statewide convention. “We need to send representatives to Albany who will be able to restore trust in government.”

Abinanti, a longtime advocate and defender of county government, said he has shown that he can be independent and put his constituents before politics.

“There are appropriate roles for government and in New York, the government is not properly functioning,” he said. “We need someone who is going to understand the system and not be part of the system.”

Earlier this week, the Westchester GOP picked Tom Bock as its candidate for that race.

The district includes Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant and a small — and by small we mean a sliver — part of Yonkers.

So which local party organization nabbed the better speaker?

Westchester Conservatives had state party chief Michael Long address its annual fundraising reception, while the county’s Republican Committee has former White House Press Secretary — and Westchester native — Ari Fleischer give the keynote address at their gala.

Tomorrow, the Westchester Democratic Commitee takes its turn with state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli offering the keynote address at its annual gala. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the VIP Club in New Rochelle

Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith is also listed as a “special guest presenter,” according to a press release from the Democratic Party.

They were staunchly behind hometown candidate Hillary Clinton, but the Westchester Democratic Committee will have no reservations about backing Barack Obama’s candidacy, says Chairman Reginald LaFayette.

“The object of the game is to win the presidency because we feel that a Democrat can serve better in the White House,” LaFayette said in a telephone interview.

LaFayette said expects most of Clinton’s supporters in Westchester to make the transition toward Obama.

“That’s the normal process in a presidential primary,” LaFayette said.

As you might expect, Westchester Democratic Chairman Reginald LaFayette is among the die hards who still give Hillary Clinton “a shot” at winning the party’s nomination for president.

“Everyday there are developments occuring and we don’t how many of those superdelegates are going to be switching sides, just like they are doing now,” LaFayette said in a telephone conversation a few moments ago.

LaFayette, who presides over the party in Clinton’s home county, said Clinton should at least remain in the race through the conclusion of all the primary contests.

“I think you should at least give every state a chance to play a part,” LaFayette said.

Regardless of who the Democrats nominate, however, LaFayette still sees a big Democratic turnout in Westchester this fall and easy re-election victories for local Democratic incumbents — especially state Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer, who Senate Republicans have targeted.

“I don’t think Suzi is in danger in a presidential year,” LaFayette said.

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano seemed in an especially good mood at his annual birthday bash/fundraiser last night, telling the packed audience how much he loved his job and that he had every intention of seeking a fourth term in 2009.

“It’s probably the best job in the state,” Spano, 72, said. “I mean, who wants to be governor?”

Spano was in such a good mood that, earlier in the evening, he even embraced his frequent nemesis, Legislator Tom Abinanti, a Greenburgh Democrat.

“Every good golfer needs a handicap and he’s mine,” Spano joked about Abinanti.

The festive mood seemed to extend to the audience, as several one-time rivals were spotted playing nice.  Among them were former lieutenant governor candidates Dennis Mehiel and Charlie King. Mehiel chided King for running a negative ad during their 2002 campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Spano’s birthday bash also drew people who are thought to be considering a campaign for his job, including Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. The Scarsdale Democrat said she has not made a decision about whether to run in 2009.

Even former state Sen. Nicholas Spano, a Yonkers Republican who is not related to the county executive, dropped by to work the crowd.

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano turned 72 earlier this month, which naturally means its time for the annual birthday bash/campaign fundraiser at the Rye Town Hilton.

This year’s event is slated for Wednesday evening and, as usual, expected to draw a crowd of more than 500 people to the hotel – usually mix of prominent Democratic Party activists, business officials (especially those with county contracts) and other Spano supporters.

Spano, who is in the middle of his third term, has already stated his intent to seek a fourth term in 2009.

So far, no Republicans have formally announced a candidacy against Spano. But Rob Astorino, who lost to the Yorktown Democrat in 2005, is expected to challenge him again.

Politics on The Hudson has already noted state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s apparent fixation with Westchester County — he’s made several high-profile visits so far this year

Well, he’s coming again.

DiNapoli will be the “special guest speaker” at the Westchester Democratic Committee’s annual dinner on June 19th, according to a letter Chairman Reginald LaFayette sent to party members late last week.

The dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the VIP Club in New Rochelle.

The Journal News’ Jonathan Bandler today sent along word that the Mount Vernon Democratic party has a new vice chairman and there’s speculation that he could soon replace the embattled Serapher Conn-Halevi as head of the party.

Deveraux Cannick, a criminal defense lawyer who was legal counsel to the Mount Vernon Board of Education for several years, was elected second vice chairman by district leaders.

Conn-Halevi said earlier in the week that she had no plans to step down. But she declined to answer questions about her long term plans and could not be reached for comment after Thursday night’s meeting.

Reginald Lafayette, the former city chairman who heads the county Democratic Party, remains the first vice chairman. He said he would not take over the city party again if Conn-Halevi was to step down.

LaFayette said he has not urged Conn-Halevi to step down but understood she was considering it because of what he considered unfair criticism leveled at her.

The Journal News has published several articles about her in recent months. One revealed that she paid herself and her daughter several thousand dollars from a political committee she runs. Another disclosed that the city building commissioner gave her a permit for renovation work to her home after it was damaged by fire without making her get the necessary approval from the Architectural Review Board.

Lafayette said the negative articles were the product of a smear campaign by
people who don’t like Conn-Halevi. “It becomes a hit job, which damages people and they don’t want to fight anymore,” he said.

Cannick, 55, could not be reached for comment. He is a principal partner in the Queens law firm Aiello & Cannick. The city’s new inspector general, Harry Stokes, was also a lawyer at that firm in recent years.

The resignation of Dave Pollak as co-chair of the New York State Democratic Committee — which was announced late Friday —  has a somewhat unwelcome consequence for Westchester Democratic Chairman Reginald LaFayette.

“Now, I guess, I am forced into going to Denver,” said LaFayette, who is also chairman of the state party’s Executive Committee.

As Liz Benjamin of the Daily Politics reported this morning, Democratic Party rules apparently require the top male and female office holders to have automatic superdelegate status. So, with Pollak no longer a top party official, LaFayette, as leader of the executive committee, would join party Chair June O’Neill as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer. Both are supporters of Hillary Clinton.

Yet, this is not necessarily good news for the normally jovial LaFayette. In prior conversations he has expressed something just short of dread at the prospect of schlepping to Denver.

“These things don’t excite me,” LaFayette said today. “It just opens up the chance for people to do what people in the hip-hop world call ‘hate on you’ more.”

Another problem with the convention is timing, since it takes place at a time when LaFayette — in his role as Westchester Elections Commissioner —is gearing up for the September primaries and often stuck in court dealing with petition challenges.

Looking to replenish their coffers in time for the start of campaign season, the Republican and Democratic committees in Westchester are both holding fundraisers Sunday morning.

The Westchester GOP is holding its 8th annual Lincoln Day Breakfast from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plans. Tickets cost $30 per person.

The Democrats, meanwhile, will gather at the VIP Club in New Rochelle at 10 a.m for the party’s annual brunch. At least 400 people are expected to attend, according to Chairman Reginald LaFayette.

Perhaps its a sign that the presidential campaign is attracting all the attention this year, but neither party’s event appears to have attracted a major guest. In previous years, it was not uncommon for top state or national party figures to speak at Westchester’s political events.

A year ago, for instance, former President Bill Clinton was the featured speaker at the Democrat’s brunch.