WPCNR MORNING SUN. By John F. Bailey. January 6, 2003: White Plains’ favorite son, Adam Bradley was sworn in as White Plains and Northeast Westchester’s 89th District Assemblyman by Judge JoAnna Friia Sunday afternoon before a celebratory crowd of approximately 250 persons which overflowed the City Council chambers at City Hall.
The Assemblyman told the all-star team of elected officials from county, state, and Washington levels and well-wishers he would work to put in place a more effective evacuation plan for Indian Point and to reform the Rockefeller drug laws.
ADAM BRADLEY BEGINS A NEW CAREER: Judge JoAnna Friia administers the oath of office to White Plains’ Adam Bradley Sunday afternoon in City Hall.
Photo Courtesy of Peter Katz
WPCNR’s correspondent said that the crowd was so large to wish Adam wel,l they formed a “horseshoe ring” of standees surrounding the 80 seats within the council hall. A full compliment of elected officials stood within the council chamber balustrade, with the crowd still spilling out into the rotunda upstairs hall about five-deep.
THE FIRST HURRAH: It was standing room only to see and congratulate the man who ousted 10-year incumbent Assemblyperson Naomi Matusow by 23 votes in the September 10 Democratic primary and handily defeated his Right-to-Life opponent by a 6-1 margin in the November general election to win the seat. Here just after his brief address to the gathering, Assemblyman Bradley accepts handskakes all around.
Photo by WPCNR News
Mayor Joseph Delfino spoke about Adam’s family and praised his parents William and Cheryl Bradley, calling them “pillars of the community for many years.” Mr. Bradley’s parents could not be present due to the illness of Mr. Bradley’s father WPCNR was told.
Congresswoman Nita Lowey spoke briefly, saying she was looking forward to working with Mr. Bradley.
Rita Malmud, speaking to WPCNR, noted that the entire White Plains City Council was present. She also noted that Congresswoman Lowey was there, State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, and County Legislators William Ryan, George Latimer, Tom Abinanti, Vito Pinto, and former Assemblyman Peter Sullivan. Also in attendance were Ron Tocci, Mayor Timothy Idoni of New Rochelle, and Greenburgh Town Supervisor, Paul Feiner.
Ms. Malmud said that Andy Spano, Westchester County Executive was not in attendance, though WPCNR later learned he had been invited to attend, and had not informed the organizers he was not coming or sending a representative.
THE “A” TEAM: Mr. Bradley and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin confer in the rotunda after Mr. Bradley’s swearing in. Ms. Paulin was one of the many elected officials who were with Mr. Bradley on his day.
Photo by WPCNR News
PLANS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH PAULIN: Mr. Bradley told WPCNR he and Ms. Paulin were on the same page on a number of issues and he expected they would be working very closely in Albany.
Photo by WPCNR News
Mr. Bradley, in his remarks, thanked all who had worked for him in his district for their support of him, and said that whenever there is a decision to be made, he will view it in terms of the effect it will have on his constituents and what it means to them.
Bradley named Maureen Allen as his chief of staff for his Assembly office, and Jane Silverman as her assistant, and invited residents to contact his offices with their concerns. Telephone numbers and e-mails have not been established yet.
PASSING THE TORCH: Former Assemblyman from the 89th District, Peter Sullivan who held the seat for 18 years prior to Ms. Matusow’s defeating him in 1992, congratulates Mr. Bradley. Sullivan said he had long respected Adam and his family, that the district had been “poorly represented” since he had left it, and that Mr. Bradley will change that. Sullivan said his son and daughter-in-law had reregistered to vote for Mr. Bradley.
Photo by WPCNR News
A PARTY FOR ABOUT 200 OF ADAM’S CLOSEST FRIENDS: Not all the many guests stayed for the reception in the rotunda after the swearing-in. Mr. Bradley said he had expected about 50 persons to attend the swearing-in and was amazed at the crowd. Greenburgh Town Supervisior Paul Feiner can be seen at lower right.
Photo by WPCNR News
“HELLO, I’M ADAM BRADLEY,” the new Assemblyman will be saying that often when he arrives in Albany Wednesday morning for the first session of the new State Assembly. Here he is shaking hands with one of the many in attendance. Bradley plans to go up to Albany Tuesday evening to start the next chapter of his life. He said he invited Mayor Delfino and officials of Bedford, Chappaqua, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, and Pound Ridge to contact him at any time on issues they want to discuss with him.
Photo by WPCNR News
