Politics on the Hudson

Symra Brandon, chair of the Yonkers Democratic Committee, said today that last night’s returns showing three of the party’s four endorsed candidates behind the top vote-getters is not a reversal for the committee.

Party-endorsed candidates Christopher Johnson and Dennis Robertson for the City Council’s First and Third Districts and county Legislator Jose Alvarado in the 17th legislative district were all in second place in last night’s initial returns, which varied from 62 to 79 percent of election districts reporting.

“I wouldn’t use the word embarrassing. We have one strong candidate and the numbers are still out,” said Brandon, noting party-endorsed Assemblyman Mike Spano’s clear numerical advantage in the Democratic mayoral primary.

Brandon said that even if her committee’s endorsed candidates don’t pull ahead, the party will welcome the candidates that prevail.

“You challenge the establishment, you win it and the establishment works with you,” said Brandon, adding that voter turnout in her party’s races was very low. “We coalesce around those people who come out of the primary. We’ll just move ahead and continue our job to win. It’s part of the democratic process.”

Assemblyman Mike Spano, D-Yonkers, announced today that he will receive a mayoral endorsement at 12:30 p.m. from the Black Democrats of Westchester and the Hispanic Democrats of Westchester at the steps of Yonkers City Hall.

Spano, the Democratic-backed candidate, faces a challenge in the Sept. 13 primary election from Robert Flower and City Council President Chuck Lesnick.

“We are excited to join Mike Spano here today to endorse his candidacy for mayor,” said David Ford, Chairman of the Black Democrats of Westchester. “Mike’s commitment to protecting and improving our communities is exactly what is needed in Yonkers.”

Jose Roman, Vice Chair of the Hispanic Democrats of Westchester said, “Mike represents a new way of addressing the issues facing Yonkers. We believe his approach to providing for quality education, fiscal stability and local job creation will lay a new foundation for growth in Yonkers.”

In addition to their endorsement of Mike Spano for Mayor, the two organizations also announced their endorsement of Jose Alvarado for County Legislator in the 17th Legislative District. Both the Black and Hispanic Democrats of Westchester expressed their support for Alvarado’s continued advocacy on behalf of the residents in his district, Spano’s press release stated.

Yonkers mayoral candidate Robert Flower criticized the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ hiring of Conservative Party insider Gail Burns.

Here is what Flower, who is challenging Democratic-party backed candidate Mike Spano and City Council President Chuck Lesnick in the Sept. 13 primary, said in his press statement released yesterday.

The recent hiring of long-time conservative activist Gail Burns as a County Board of Legislators administrative aide and the expectation that this will lead to write-in votes on the Conservative line for Mike Spano as Mayor of Yonkers  is one more example of the backroom politics that has hindered  progress in the city, said Democratic Mayoral candidate Bob Flower today.

“It’s a commitment to the same-old, same-old  politics that keeps those responsible for Yonkers’ problems in positions of executive and legislative responsibility,” Flower declared.  “How can residents of Yonkers break free of this bondage if the same people who brought the city to its current state of disrepute continue to shape its future.”

The lifelong resident of Yonkers is basing his campaign on an “after all the politicians, it’s time for competence” theme and is calling for someone with executive, rather than legislative, experience to head City Hall.

“The city needs new ideas and executive skills, not the failed policies and leadership of the past,” he said.

Yonkers Assemblyman Mike Spano got a mayoral endorsement today from three of the Yonkers City Council’s Democrats.

Spano, the Democratic party’s endorsed candidate, faces a Sept. 13 Democratic primary challenge from City Council President Chuck Lesnick and Robert Flower.

“Mike is the only candidate who can bring the strong leadership our city needs to protect education and provide new opportunity in Yonkers,” said Councilwoman Patricia McDow, 1st District. “He’s been an effective advocate for Yonkers as an Assemblyman and will be the effective Mayor our city needs now more than ever.”

“It’s time to bring change to the Mayor’s office and implement the reforms that are important to us all, such as improving our schools so our kids get the support they need,” said Councilman Wilson Terrero, 2nd District. “Mike Spano is the clear choice to get that done. He has the vision to continue what is right and fix what is wrong.”

“Our city cannot afford to continue to be run by crisis year after year while spending more than our revenues allow,” said Councilwoman Joan Gronowski, 3rd District. “Yonkers voters have a real opportunity this year to elect a Mayor who has the ability to make real progress for our city.”

City Council President Chuck Lesnick’s recent mayoral campaign e-blast criticized Assemblyman Mike Spano for mailings he’s done on the state’s dime.

Lesnick, who faces party-back candidate Spano and Robert Flower  in the Sept. 13 Democratic primary, said Spano is abusing his privileges.

“We find it reprehensible that a state assemblyman can use the public coffers to crank out campaign literature in the guise of official mailing during such bad fiscal times,” Lesnick’s email stated.

Spano campaign spokesman Jason Baker said that Spano’s mailing was done in July and that there are very strict deadlines that the Assembly has regarding mailings.

Baker said Spano issued three mailings about new laws and changes, which is something he does every year.

“There is nothing political. Everything is legislative,” Baker said of the flier. “This is just another attempt by Chuck Lesnick to divert attention from the real issues affecting Yonkers.”

Assemblyman Mike Spano, D-Yonkers, called on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today to release their findings of a reconnaissance study that they conducted on flooding in Yonkers.

Spano, who is running for mayor and faces two Democratic primary challengers, said that the time for studies is over and that action needs to be taken.

He noted that residents of the Brooklands complex at 1000 Palmer Rd. “are in such high danger of total devastation that they have been forced to hire their own flood control specialist in hopes of building a flood wall—this should not be their responsibility,” Spano stated.

“Our city cannot continue to be reactive to the serious problems we face,” Spano stated. “It’s already too late for those currently out of their homes following Hurricane Irene. ACOE must put a plan in place now to prevent serious flooding that will without doubt occur again in the future if nothing continues to be done,” Spano said.

Yonkers Assemblyman Mike Spano called today for a state investigation into alleged price gouging by a Yonkers gas station.

Spano, who is running for Yonkers mayor, wrote to the state Attorney General’s Office asking for a price-gouging probe of Ultimate Quality Fuel and Food Mart, which Spano said was charging a dollar more per gallon of gas during the weekend.

New York’s General Business Law prohibits price increases of gas, food, water, milk and other emergency essentials during natural disasters.

The Democrat released to the media a photograph of the offending prices.

“This sort of thing is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated,” Spano said in his release. “It is simply wrong to take advantage of people during a crisis such as what we just experienced with Hurricane Irene.”

Spano added that the gas station has since lowered its price for regular below $4 a gallon.

Yonkers Assemblyman Mike Spano got a mayoral endorsement from the SEIU’s 32BJ, the state’s largest private-sector union.

“Yonkers needs a mayor who stands up for working families,” said Hector Figueroa, the union’s secretary treasurer, in a statement released on Aug. 12. “Mike Spano has shown leadership and commitment in his efforts to improve both the local economy and the lives of working men and women.”

Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick got an endorsement in his mayoral campaign from the New York League of Conservation Voters on Aug. 1.

“Yonkers need a leader focused on moving the city towards a more sustainable future,” said Nanette Bourne, chair of NYLCV’s Westchester chapter. “That’s why the New York League of Conservation Voters is proud to endorse Chuck Lesnick for election.”

Lesnick, who is not the Democratic Party’s official candidate, is running against party candidate Assemblyman Mike Spano and Robert Flower.

The Westchester County Board of Elections gave The Journal News a list of eligible primary candidates today.

Barring unresolved court challenges, here’s a list of the candidates who will appear on the ballot in the Democratic and Republican primaries:

Mayor

Carlo Calvi, Republican

Robert Flower, Democrat

Chuck Lesnick, Democrat

Richard Martinelli, Republican

John Murtagh, Republican

Mike Spano, Democrat

First City Council District

Brian Carter, Democrat

Mark Hynes, Democrat

Christopher Johnson, Democrat

Lawrence Sykes, Democrat

Third City Council District

John Bryant, Republican

Michael Francis Meyer, Republican

Dennis Robertson, Democrat

Michael Rotanelli, Democrat

Michael Sabatino, Democrat

Fifth City Council District

Michael Breen, Republican

Stephen Cerrato, Republican

Joseph Crotty, Republican