WPCNR All News Final. Special to WPCNR. May 30, 2002. 11:00 PM E.D.T.: WPCNR observer at the Westchester County Republican Convention at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Thursday evening reports the Republican Party optimistic that this will be a Republican year based on Governor Pataki’s popularity. They also report the GOP expects a challenge to Assemblywoman Naomi Matusow in Assembly District 89.
The GOP nominated Sue Kelly, Guy Velella, Nick Spano and Lei Bell for the State Senate, but is holding over announcing the Congressional Districts these candidates will be running in until next week.
In New York State Assembly races, the Republicans affirmed the nomination of the political debut of Tony Sayegh. Mr. Sayegh is running against Amy Paulin, the Democratic incumbent in Assembly District 88, which includes half of White Plains, West of Post Road and North Broadway. The Republicans also nominated Mike Spano and Willis Stephens of Carmel for Assembly.
Republicans Watch Democrat Intrigue.
Our Republican observer said the party’s decision to not nominate a candidate at this time to oppose Naomi Matusow, the Democrat incumbent in Assembly District 89, is based on the leadership’s opinion that White Plains Democrats may “primary” Ms. Matusow due to her anti-sales tax position, as being not in the best interest of White Plains residents.
Matusow, has refused to budge from her position of opposing the sales tax in Albany. Elimination of the sales tax would cost White Plains taxpayers an extra 30% in property taxes to make up for the loss of sales tax revenue.
Speculation that even City Democratic Party Leader in White Plains, Adam Bradley, might primary Matusow was enhanced locally by Bradley’s marching in the White Plains Memorial Day parade Monday. He was acting every bit like a candidate for something. This reporter has not seen behind-the-scenes party leaders marching in city-sponsored functions.
Bradley and Delgado live in Matusow’s new District
Matusow’s newly drawn District 89, includes the south end of White Plains East, Southeast of Post Road and North Broadway, where Adam Bradley lives. Bradley’s Court of Appeals argument that reversed an appellate and trial court decisions calling for a new election in White Plains to determine the sixth council seat, has boosted his stature as a possible candidate to oppose Matusow.
At a convention attended by approximately 200 Republican supporters at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the party nominated the following candidates: For Justice of the Supreme Court: Janet Difiori, Thomas A. Dickerson, Mary H. Smith, and James Brands.
Nominated for Judge of the County Court: Irene Ratner. Our correspondent reports the Republicans are holding over nominations for the Family Court until June 6.
The GOP nominated Sue Kelly, Guy Velella, Nick Spano and Lei Bell for the State Senate, but is holding over announcing the Congressional Districts these candidates will be running in until next week.
Delgado Quo Warranto Waltz Plays On.
Larry Delgado, who lives in Ms. Matusow’s newly drawn district, and could, should he so choose, oppose Matusow, was seen at the convention, working the crowd, according to our correspondent. Mr. Delgado did not return calls from WPCNR asking if he was a possible candidate for Assemblywoman Matusow’s seat.
Earlier Thursday, Jeffrey Binder, an attorney for Mr. Delgado orchestrating his quo warranto proceeding with the New York State Attorney General’s Office gave us an update on Mr. Delgado’s efforts to have the Attorney General take up his jammed election machine case.
Case being carefully documented.
Binder told WPCNR the Attorney General’s office had contacted Mr. Delgado personally last week, and offered Mr. Delgado “as much time as needed” to prepare the materials for the quo warranto request. Binder said that he and his legal colleague on the case, John Ciampoli, were doing “our due diligence” in presenting the facts that the Attorney General could use to stage a quo warranto action to recall Glen Hockley from his Common Council seat.
Hockley was, in effect, made the winner of the November 6 election, when the Court of Appeals ruled against Mr. Delgado on March 15, throwing out two lower court rulings declaring a new election be held to determine who would occupy the sixth Common Council seat. Mr. Delgado lead Mr. Hockley going into District 18 results, which were found to be inconclusive due to the District 18 voting machine jamming on the Delgado line, which the Delgado camp claimed resulted in Mr. Hockley winning by 47 votes.
The Court of Appeals ruled that the lower courts overstepped their jurisdiction by calling for a new election, and that Mr. Delgado’s only remedy was to seek a quo warranto action through the Attorney General’s office, which is currently being sought by the Delgado camp. The Attorney General’s office contact with Mr. Delgado and his attorneys last week, was their first contact with Mr. Delgado to date. They have had the case for nine weeks.