3 Races in County Legislature too close to call. Roach, Smayda, Martin, Kirkpatrick Returned to Power.

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013 ROUNDUP. By John F. Bailey. November 6, 2013 UPDATED 2:20 A.M. E.S.T.: 

Mayor Thomas Roach won a full four year term as Mayor in his own right Tuesday, defeating challenger Cass V. Cibelli, 6,627 to 1,907 votes, taking 78% of the vote. It appears that only 28% of White Plains registered voters came to the polls, White Plains having about 31,000 registered voters.

The new Common Council will have a slightly new look in January, with Benjamin Boykin departing for the County Legislature, having defeated Miriam Levitt-Flisser to win Bill Ryan’s former District 5 seat on the County Legislature.

Boykin won with 61% of the vote over Flisser, 5,846 votes to 3,796 as of last look at the numbers at 1:30 A.M.

I expect the Common Council  to appoint Nick Wolfe to the Council to replace Boykin. Wolfe has been serving an apprenticeship, attending council meetings for the last six months in preparation. Should Wolfe be appointed this will leave  the council with six caucasion members and one Hispanic, Milagros Lecouna.

Meanwhile Beth Smayda with 5,230 votes won her second four year term to the council. John Martin garnering 5,273 votes, won his second elected term to the council after winning a special election after having been appointed to replace Tom Roach who became Mayor when Adam Bradley resigned. John Kirkpatrick, winning 5,168 votes, secured his first elected term, after having been appointed to the Council to replace David Buchwald who resigned from the council after winning an Assembly seat last year.

Claudia Murphy  won 3,064 votes trailing Kirkpatrick by 2,104 votes; while Anne-Marie Encarnacao received 2,742 votes, and Carl Albanese, who did not campaign won 2, 445 votes. These returns are with 82% of White Plains districts in.

Democrats win 9 seats; Republicans 5, with 3 in doubt.

On the County scene, the makeup of the County Board of Legislators depends on the outcome of three races that are still close: The  7th, 10th and 14th districts are too close to call with about 20% of the votes remaining to be counted. Presently the Democrats have won 9 seats and the Republicans, 5. A veto proof majority is 12 votes.

Presently, Democrat Catherine Parker leads Republican John Venti by 180 votes with 67% counted in District 7.

Mary Jo Jacobs the Democrat is in a tie with Sheila Marcotte the Republican with 11 votes separating them and  81% of the vote in in the District 10 Race.

Over in District 14, Republican Bernice Spreckman leads Rocky Richards the Democrat by 400 votes with 77% of the votes in.

It looks as if the Democrats will pick up Districts 7 and 14 for 11 votes and a veto-proof majority with the District 10 race a bonus if they win it. However, Mike Kaplowitz and Virginia Perez the Democrats who defected and helped Rob Astorino pass his budget in 2012, could act as  Republican swing votes in a scuffle. So picking up all three districts would not necessarily mean the Democrats would have a veto proof roster.

In the Proposition Results, the first five Propositions passed statewide, including casino gambling. The proposition extending judges’ retirement age ten years was defeated.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Astorino with 80% of Vote In, Wins 2nd Term. Bramson Concedes. 14,333 Vote Margin at 12:30 A.M.

20131105astorino 055

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. November 6, 2013 :

Democrat Noam Bramson has conceded to County Executive Robert P. Astorino. According to The Journal News Mr. Bramson conceded early at 10:30 P.M.

With 80 per cent of votes in, Mr. Astorino has a 10 percentage point lead. ( 2 points more than Republicans thought they would win. Mr. Astorino as of 12:37 A.M. leads Mr. Bramson 75,951 votes to 61,643, a 14,308 vote lead.

Bramson gave this concession speech to supporters

Rob Astorino and I have disagreed on many issues, but throughout this campaign, I have respected his skills as a competitor. I know that he and his family have sacrificed for his service. And as citizens of this great county, all of us should wish him success as he governs Westchester for the next four years. Please join me in giving Rob Astorino a round of applause.

For my part, as the saying goes, I’m too old to cry, and it hurts too much to laugh. But despite my disappointment this evening, I am also filled with gratitude.

I could not have asked more from an incredible staff, who applied themselves to the campaign with intensity and drive, who supported each other as a true team, and who committed themselves to this cause for all the right reasons.

I could not have asked more from old friends and new friends who extended themselves beyond any reasonable claim or expectation, who gave of their time and energy and money and, above all, gave of their trust in remarkable ways.

And I could not have asked more from colleagues in government and politics and labor, who stood up to be counted, who took risks to be part of our effort. I do not take that for granted.

Running against a well-liked and well-financed incumbent is always a tough challenge. The fact that we came as close as we did is a tribute to the extraordinary effort and dedication of so many people here. This was your campaign.

The regret I feel tonight is not for myself, because this has been a remarkable experience, filled with moments that I will always remember and people whom I’ve come to admire. And I get to return to a job that I love, serving the people of New Rochelle.

My regret is that I wasn’t able to bring home the victory that each of you deserved – and that we won’t have an opportunity to make a difference for all the people in our county who need an advocate and a champion. There is so much I wanted to do, and that work will have to wait.

Lastly, I want to thank my family.

My brothers, who have been incredible sources of encouragement, making up for all those times they beat me up when we were younger.

My mother, who after every debate and television appearance could always be counted upon to declare, without any bias whatsoever, that her son was “absolutely magnificent.”

Jeremy and Owen, who were very patient with a dad who was hardly around, who were – mostly – helpful to mom, and who had the good sense to laugh about all those mean ads on television.

Most of all, my wife Catie. It’s not easy to be a candidate in a race of this scale, but it’s much, much harder to be a candidate’s spouse, particularly a spouse with a demanding career of her own. And Catie has borne the entirely unfair burdens of the past year with understanding and grace and only occasional assistance from a bottle of white wine. The best day of my life was the day Catie agreed to marry me, and I’m just lucky that she hasn’t figured out yet what a foolish decision that was.

It has been a long road, and I’ll admit that we’re ready to resume something resembling a normal state of affairs.

But I end this campaign more committed to public service than I have ever been.

And if I can leave you with just one request, it is not let the disappointment of a single evening discourage you from remaining engaged. For all the superficiality and theatrics of politics, there is also at its heart a majesty that is worth fighting for. Our values do not rise and fall on one victory or one defeat, they endure and take new form in every season and every debate. And the cause for which every one of us worked will be just as important tomorrow as it is today.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Casino Gambling Passes: Governor. At 11:40 P.M. mark, Astorino maintains 10% lead, 7,784 vote margin over Bramson. Boykin, Roach, Smayda, Martin, Kirkpatrick Appear elected in WP

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. November 5, 2013:

Now that 49% percent of the county vote is in and unofficially counted as of 11:15  P..M. incumbent County Executive Robert  Astorino holds a 7,784  vote margin over challenger Noam Bramson, a 55% to 45% spread.

In two new developments, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that Proposition One, allowing 7 casinos in New York State, 4 in the Southern Tier, and 3 in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County in 7 years has passed. The Governor in a statement wrote:

“The passage of Proposal One is a big win for local governments, school districts, and taxpayers across New York State. This vote will keep hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year in neighboring states right here in New York, while increasing revenue for local schools, lowering property tax taxes, and bringing proper regulation to the industry. This vote builds on the landmark agreements we reached with Native American tribes this year, ending expensive court battles and unnecessary discord and restoring hundreds of millions of dollars to local governments. Since taking office, my administration has focused on reviving the state’s economy, and today’s vote will further pave the way for the creation of new jobs, construction, and increased tourism in communities across the state.”

The Albany Times-Union-Record reported:” Although the new amendment will ultimately allow seven casinos in the state, the first four will be built in three upstate regions: the Capital-Saratoga region, the Southern Tier region and the Catskills/Hudson Valley.”

Back in the voting races—

Timothy Idoni, the incumbent County Clerk is in a close race against Mary Beth Murphy. leading by 54% to 46% ( 5,801 votes) with half the vote still to go.

Meanwhile, in County Legislative District 5, with 43% of the vote counted, representing White Plains, Scarsdale and part of Harrison, White Plains Benjamin Boykin continues to lead Scardale’s Miriam Levitt-Flisser, 60% to 40%, and appears headed for a seat in the Michaelian Building on the County Legislature.

In the other  County Legislature races, the margin at this time is  12 Democratics leading to 5 Republicans. Only one race,  the District 7 Race between Catherine Parker and John Verni is still too close to call, and the District 9 contest  involving  Catherine Borgia and Peter Tripodi III, is seeing Ms. Borgia pull  away.

However Andrea Rendo is making a move on  Peter Harckham in District 2, trailing by just 539 votes, 6 percentage points behind, after having been substantially behind.

In the local City of White Plains elections, Mayor Thomas Roach  leads challenger Cass Cibelli by a 3 to 1 margin with 52% of the vote counted. Mr. Roach has won his first four year term as Mayor since winning a Special Election in 2011 to complete the term of Adam Bradley leading Mr. Cibelli by a 77% to 23% margin at this time.

24 of  46 Districts reporting in White Plains, 52% of the vote,  Beth Smayda and John Martin, incumbent councilpersons and John Kirkpatrick, seeking election for the first time are leading rivals Claudia Murphy by 21% to 15% margins with Anne Marie Encarnacao and Carl Albanese sitting on about 12% of the vote. Murphy trails Kirkpatrick now  by 1,195 votes as of 11:15 P.M. It looks as Smayda, Martin and Kirkpatrick have been elected.

All Propositions except Proposition 6 (that extends judges’ retirements)  continue to pass in Westchester County.


New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has just issued this statement 45 minutes ago upon the election of Bill de Blasio as the new Mayor of New York City

“Tonight New York City voters have opened an exciting new chapter in our State’s largest city with the :election of incoming Mayor Bill de Blasio. On a personal level, it is particularly gratifying to see Bill, a true friend and former colleague, win tonight. He has the experience to run New York City, a compelling vision for its future and he and his family epitomize the New York story. As New York City’s next Mayor, I know Bill will be a tremendous partner in moving this great City forward.”

Returns come from the official Board of Elections website, which is working beautifully, we might add.

Posted in Uncategorized