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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From County Legislator Bill Ryan. May 16, 2005: Friday evening, Legislator Bill Ryan, long thought to be the front runner in the Democrat “Race” to run for Mayor of White Plains, issued a Question and Answer News Release on the topic of his political future, after WPCNR was first to report the White Plains Democratic Party Nominating Committee had not found a person to nominate to run against Joseph Delfino.

 

COUNTY LEGISLATOR BILL RYAN.

Photo WPCNR News Archive.

 

Here are Mr. Ryan’s comments in Question and Answer Format:

Q: Will you be seeking re-election to the County Board of Legislators?

 

Ryan: Yes, I’ll be seeking a fifth term on the Board.

 

Q: There was speculation that you might be the Democratic Candidate for Mayor in White Plains? What happened?

 

Ryan: Yes, I did look into the Mayor’s race. It was tempting to consider. The City is at a crossroads and it would be an exciting opportunity to lead it but I can’t walk away from the enormous countywide responsibilities that my colleagues entrusted me with and that I agreed to assume.

 

A year and a half ago, the legislators unanimously asked me to lead the Board and I agreed to do that. Today, in addition to being the County Legislator for White Plains and Scarsdale, I’m Chairman of the Board with countywide responsibilities.

 

I’m up to my eyeballs with the most serious issues that Westchester County has ever faced. After weighing all this, my job is here (on the County Board of Legislators), helping to further improve our County, not out in the street in an all time-consuming race for City Hall. I can’t walk away from the challenges facing the County.

 

Q. What are those challenges that you’re so heavily involved in?

 

Ryan: Obviously, saving the Medical Center is among the most pressing at the moment, along with ensuring a financial plan for Westchester that includes a balanced 2006 budget, stabilized property taxes and maintenance of the County’s Triple A rating. I’ve also been working on providing more affordable housing, especially for our growing senior population (our White Plains proposal, for example), as well as enhancing our very fine public safety and emergency response capabilities that I helped put into place.

 

Q. How much was your decision based on your poll?

 

Ryan: What poll? Okay, let’s say there was a poll. If I had a poll, my gut tells me it would say we’re running neck and neck. By all rights, I shouldn’t be running neck and neck with an eight-year incumbent (Joseph Delfino), who’s presiding over what he promotes as the renaissance of White Plains.

 

One would think he’d be way out in front. He’s not. In fact, he’s been running scared at the prospect that I’d be his opponent. He’s been all over the place, in front of every camera. He’s been showing up in more places in the past six months than in his entire term.

 

Those are not the actions of a front-runner who believes he has it locked up.

 

Honestly, you don’t need polls or my personal opinion. I think most people have a sense as to how this race would turn out.

 

Q. So, where does this leave the White Plains Democrats now?

 

Ryan: When I made my decision, I also looked at the challenges facing White Plains and the Democratic talent on the City Council and I saw a number of people who are eminently qualified to serve as Mayor. Let me emphasize, the Democrats have a tremendous pool of talent in the City and it’s not just limited to the Council.

 

Q: There are those who would like you to remain in County government and become the next County Executive. Would you run for County Executive?

 

Ryan: Not this year! Right now the only County Executive’s race I’m interested in is Andy Spano’s re-election. He’s a terrific County Executive and I’ll be working hard to get him four more years. We don’t always see eye-to-eye but we have a good, working relationship that produces positive results for Westchester. If down the road, people ask me to run for County Executive, well, I’d certainly consider it.

 

(Editor’s Note: A voter preference poll asking voter’s opinions on Mr. Ryan’s candidacy for Mayor if he were to oppose Joseph Delfino, and  Councilman Tom Roach’s candidacy for Mayor, as well as questions that sampled  voter opinions on the performance of Mayor Joseph Delfino was conducted some time  in the first three months of this year. WPCNR was interviewed in that poll. WPCNR has been able to gather sufficient information as to what political camp conducted and financed the poll.)

 

 

WPCNR Backroom Bulletin. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2005: The White Plains Democratic City Committee Nominating Committee has found no Democrat whom they recommend running against Mayor Joseph Delfino, who will run for his third term in November.  The revelation leading contenders for Mayor have dropped out (Tom Roach, Rita Malmud, Bill Ryan, Benjamin Boykin) confirmed what the CitizeNetReporter first reported last week that Mr. Ryan and Mr. Boykin had dropped out, was announced to Democrat District Leaders in a letter mailed Wednesday, received by District Leaders  Thursday.

 

 

The text of the Nominating Committee letter announcing candidates for county and Common Council positions reads “The Nominating Committee has no recommendations for the position of Mayor, City of White Plains.

 

 

 

The letter on White Plains Democratic City Committee letter head, was shared with WPCNR by a Democratic District Leader under condition of anonymity.

 

The appearance of the letter means that  for the first time in the history of the Democratic Party, the Nominating Committee could find no one to run for Mayor.

 

Council Candidates: Familiar Faces

 

The letter announces the Nominating Committee recommends to the Democratic City Committee that Glen Hockley,  and incumbent Councilpersons Rita Malmud and Thomas Roach, Jr. run for Common Council.

 

 Ms Malmud if confirmed by the City Committee as expected when they meet May 24 at the YWCA on North Street, will be seeking to be elected for her fifth term on the Common Council to serve through 2009.  

 

Where did the Contenders Go?

 

It was widely expected that Ms. Malmud and Mr. Boykin and Mr. Ryan would dog fight for the Mayoral nomination.

 

But sources close to Mr. Ryan have told WPCNR that Mr. Ryan’s survey to test his strength among voters showed him losing to Mayor Delfino, and therefore he elected to keep his safe, powerful position as Chair of the County Board of Legislators. WPCNR has also learned that Mr. Ryan has been told he would be supported for County Executive when Andy Spano is up for reelection in 2009. Running against Joseph Delfino and losing would finish him off politically.

 

Mr. Boykin was the next likely Delfino opponent, but he has not raised funds for a run, and has shown little interest in taking on “America’s Favorite Mayor.” Boykin told close friends last week he was not running for Mayor.

 

Mr. Roach, will be running for his second term on the Common Council, if the City Committee follows through and nominates him on the 24^th. It was expected that Mr. Roach with his pragmatic thoughtful approach to development and  housing issues, on which he has differed with Mayor Delfino in recent months, at least had a basis upon which to challenge the Mayor. When asked last week about running for Mayor, Roach told WPCNR “You never know,” but that he was more interested in the Common Council.

 

Ms. Malmud had credentials to mount a campaign against Mr. Delfino. She supported Commissioner of Public Works Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti on the controversial sewer lining crisis that gripped city hall last spring in a story first reported by WPCNR.  Ms. Malmud also spoke up strongly on Louis Cappelli’s affordable housing commitments.

 

However, party sources, speaking on condition of anonymity have told WPCNR that though the Nominating Committee asked Mr. Roach, Ms. Malmud, and Mr. Boykin if they would run, they all turned down the opportunity.

 

Hockley Nominated to Run Again.

 

The indefatigable Glen Hockley will be attempting to be elected without controversy to the Common Council, after being ousted from the Common Council as a “usurper” in July, 2004, replaced by Larry Delgado.  The historical ousting occurred after a  successful quo warranto action brought by the New York State Attorney General on behalf of Larry Delgado.

 

The quo warranto action was brought after Mr. Hockley was sworn into his council seat March 14, 2002 when the New York Court of Appeals overturned a summary judgment by Judge Francis Nicolai in New York Supreme Court, calling for a Special Election in District 18 in White Plains where a voting machine had jammed costing Mr. Delgado over 100 votes.  

 

The special election was upheld by the Appellate Court in Brooklyn when Mr. Hockley, (with Adam Bradley as his attorney) appealed. The Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Court ruling, allowing Mr. Hockley to be seated on the Common Council March 15, 2002, where he served approximately 27 months of the 48 month term. Mr. Delgado was seated July 17, 2004, where he has served 9-1/2 months.

 

At the time of Tuesday’s nominating, Mr. Hockley was still fighting his ouster in the courts. He has until June 30, to depose the 103 voters who signed affadavitts saying they voted for Mr. Delgado in November of 2001 when the fateful District 18 election machine jammed. Mr. Hockley, when last he spoke to WPCNR, had said he had not made a decision on whether to have his attorney question voters on the way they voted that day 42 months ago.

 

Mr. Hockley has professed to WPCNR that he is dedicated to going back on the Common Council. 

 

Bradley too? 

 

It has been reported that Adam Bradley was asked to run for Mayor, but also turned it down. But this could not be confirmed with Mr. Bradley at presstime. Mr. Bradley has told WPCNR previously last fall he was not interested.

 

Still Time Brother to run for Mayor.

 

Though the Nominating Committee has not recommended any candidates for Mayor, a candidate may be nominated from the floor at the Democratic City Committee Meeting on May 24, when nominations will be open from the floor.

 

County Legislators Renominated.

 

The Nominating Committee’s letter recommends Bill Ryan to run for County Legislator of the 5^th District, and Lois Bronz, for County Legislator in the 8^th District.

 

The Nominating Committee is made up of Zelle Andrews, Lydia Barkley, Howard Glassman,Chair, Robert Hock, Cheryl Melton, Barbara Schwarz and Robert Wall.