Westchester DA Janet DiFiore Front Runner to Replace Cuomo as State Attorney General

Westchester DA Janet DiFiore

 

Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore, fresh off her big re-election win a few weeks ago, is being seriously considered by State Democrats to run for Attorney General next year. Current AG Andrew Cuomo is running for Governor, and rising times hears that communications have been made between both Cuomo and DiFiore to consider DiFiore running on a statewide ticket with Cuomo.

If Cuomo and DiFiore join forces, it gives DiFiore the edge over the several Democrats that will likey come forward to also run for AG, including state senator Jeff Klein. DiFiore would still have to run in a statewide Dem primary next September.

We have called DiFiore one of the most popular elected officials in Westchester months ago, and proudly endorsed her re-election. Now Democrats statewide have taken notice.

Also realize that the Attorney Generals office in NY is a stepping stone to beocme Governor. Elliot Spitzer used it to run, now Andrew Cuomo is doing the same.

 

 

John Cahill Preparing a Run for Yonkers Mayor?

John Cahill, with former Governor George Pataki

 

Yonkers native John Cahill, the former Chief of Staff to Governor George Pataki, is said to be seriously considering a run for Yonkers Mayor in 2011, sources tell Rising Times.

Cahill has strong ties throughout the State GOP, which would help him raise more than enough  funds needed for a Yonkers Mayoral race.

Cahill, who initially had doubts about running after serving in government for 12 years under Pataki, has had a lucrative private career post Pataki. And the urging of his friends and fellow Republicans, including Pataki, are making Cahill reconsider.

Outreaches have been made to see if there is interest, and there is, including from the current Mayor, Phil Amicone, who we hear, would like to pass the torch to someone like Cahill.

Yonkers City Councilman John Murtagh is the other Republican prominently mentioned as a GOP candidate for Mayor in 2011.

 

 

 

Klein to Run for Attorney General? Open Senate Seat in Westchester?

State Senator Jeff Klein

 

Rising Times hears that State Senator Jeff Klein is laying the groundwork to make a run for New York Attorney General next year. With the current AG Andrew Cuomo to run for Governor, the AG’s office will be an open seat next year, and Klein has always had an interest in a run for AG, but will have to abandon his senate seat to do so.

On the Democratic side, several Bronx Democrats are jockeying to see who will replace Klein, but the Democratic candidate will come from the Bronx and not Westchester.

On the Republican side, two Westchester republicans are eying this race. The obvious first choice of state republicans is Eastchester Supervisor Tony Colavita. Colavita, fresh of a re-election victory in November, now has a town board that is completely Republican.

Colavita has been wooed by the State GOP to run before and has declined. Our guess is that Tony passed again and focuses on Eastchester.

Yonkers Councilman Liam McLaughlin is another interested Republican, and we have heard of meetings between McLaughlin and prominent Westchester republicans to see if their is support.

 

Federal Indictments Coming ‘Sooner Rather than Later’

 

 

U.S. Attorney Perrt Bharara-ready to drop a bomb in Westchester?

We are hearing the rumblings in and around the US Attorney’s office that long awaited indictments of poltical corruption in Westchester and Yonkers are comign ’sooner rather than later.’

With the holiday season fast approaching, the sooner may be at the beginning of 2010.

The outcome of any indictments from new US Attorney Perrt Bharara may have far reaching implications on the future of Yonkers Politics.

Opening on Yonkers City Court and Inspector General Next Year Draw Candidates

Jim Castro-Blanco

Liam McLaughlin

 

The election of City Court Judge Charlie Wood to the NYS Supreme Court on election day, creates a vacancy on the city bench that will be appointed by Mayor Amicone.

A number of candidates are said to be interested in the post. Two names that we hear are Councilman Liam McLaughlin and council president candidate Jim Castro-Blanco. Both McLaughlin and Castro-Blanco are said to also be interested in the Inspector General’s job currently held by Phil Zisman.

Zisman and the Mayor are at odds, and the Mayor is ready to make a change. Amicone nominated Michael White to be IG, but removed his name from consideration after his confimation before the council took a turn for the worse.

With a new city council, Amicone now has the votes to confirm a new Inspector General of his choice next year. While both McLaughlin and Castro-Blanco are eager candidates, both do not have a likelihood of getting either post.

City Hall Exodus to Astorino Campaign?

Rising Times is hearing that a few staffers for Mayor Phil Amicone are leaving to join the administration of new County Executive Rob Astorino.

Topping the list is David Simpson, communications director for the Mayor. Simpson ran Astorino’s campaign 4 years ago, and has done a good job over the past 2 years running a tight media ship for the Mayor.

Also departing the 2nd floor of City Hall are John Cerino, and another female staffer who hasn’t left yet.

Also include Gail Burns as the open desks in the Mayor’s office, but Gail won’t be moving to Astorino. The Conservative Party, which she heads, backed Andy Spano. She was fired last month by the Mayor, which started a heated feud between Amicone and Nick Spano.

Run Dee Run!!!

 

Sources tell Rising Times that outgoing councilwoman Dee Barbato is considering a run for Assembly against Mike Spano this November.

Barbato passed up an opportunity to run for Council President this year, and maybe kicking herself because many believed that she was the most dangerous candidate. She is well liked and respected in Yonkers and is a great campaigner.

Barbato has been close allies with the Spano’s, Nick and Mike, over the years, so if she decided to run it would result in an end to that relationship. Dee works for Westchester County, and her husband works for County Clerk Tim Idoni. Both of their positions were safe under County Exec Andy Spano, what happens under Rob Astorino is another story.

With Nick unable to protect the Barbato’s jobs, Dee may make a run for the Assembly against Mike.

While most believe that Dee won’t run, others are salivating at the thought of her running a winning as a Republican, against former Republican now Democrat Mike Spano.

Levy Out of Yonkers GOP-Moves to Mike Spano camp

Nick Spano loyalist Steve Levy, recently departed from the Yonkers GOP, to work for Assemblyman Mike Spano. Mike, a Democrat, apparently got some extra funds for his staff from Speaker Shelly Silver. Silver and Nick Spano were close during Nick’s senate days and remain so.

Mike may be in for a battle for re-election to his Assembly seat. Several prominent republican names are being tossed out as possible opponents to Mike, in what may be another bad year for incumbents and long serving politicians.

Another Spano, County Executive AndySpano , no relation, went down in flames to Republican Rob Astorino in the tax revolt that was the election of 2009 in Westchester.

But Levy’s real presence in Mike’s camp is to prepare a Mike Spano for Mayor campaign in 2011. Nick Spano has been laying the groundwork for Mike’s run this year, and Levy, one of the best political workers in Westchester, will be the campaign manager in 2 years.

 

Yonkers Political buzz–we are back

Council President Chuck Lesnick with former Governor Mario Cuomo

Mayor Phil Amicone

We are back after a brief hiatus-sorry for the delay

 Yonkers political is buzzing about future runs for office and job departures. Here’s what we hear

Mayor Phil Amicone—look for the Mayor to work with the new City Council in his last two years in office. The addition of councilmember’s Dennis Shepherd, John Larkin and Wilson Terrero give the Mayor 3 friendlier votes on development. If you add to that coalition, Councilwoman Pat McDow and John Murtagh, that’s 4 or 5 votes in 2010.

The Mayor is now pondering his political future. Term limited from running again in 2011, we hear that the Mayor is not inclined to have the council overturn term limits to allow him to run again. Part of this may be the narrow victory by Mayor Mike Bloomberg in NYC on Election Day, who had term limits overturned so he could run again.

Statewide office is a possibility for the Mayor, with either a run for Comptroller, Lieutenant Governor or US Senate, in the realm of possibility, all up next year. Who the GOP candidate for Governor will be is still a mystery.

Council President Chuck Lesnick: Lesnick squeaking out a post election day victory over Jim Castro-Blanco by 139 votes will attempt to forge his own majority coalition on the council.  A run for Mayor in 2011 is in the cards for Lesnick, with mixed opinions on whether he is a front runner, or whether this past election hurt his Mayoral hopes.

Lesnick’s name has also been tossed out as a possible Lieutenant Governor candidate; Chuck has connections and affiliations with both Andrew and Mario Cuomo.

Astorino Wins!: Biggest Upset in Westchester History

Westchester County on Tuesday, when Republican Rob Astorino beat Democrat Andy Spano by a resounding 58 to 42 percent.

 

“Today the voters agree — we can do better,” Astorino said at his victory celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains. “This victory is much more than about me, it’s a movement. People can’t afford to live here anymore, but that will change.”


 

Astorino’s victory, which was heard throughout New York State, came from voter discontent and outrage over property taxes, with Westchester being named for the second year in a row as the highest taxed county in the nation. His message of reducing the size of county government and looking to save taxpayer money, hit home.


 

 

“We will face the tax crisis head on, and the decisions may not be popular, but I will make them because they have to be made,” said the county executive-elect.


 

Spano ran for a fourth term as county executive, and, after 12 years in office, voters grew tired of him — as they have of Mario Cuomo and others. 
The recently approved federal housing settlement, which requires county government to build 750 units of low-income housing across the county, was the last straw for many homeowners and taxpayers, with most voting for Astorino as a result of Spano’s handling of the case. 
Astorino, gracious in victory, thanked Spano for his “30 years of service to Westchester,” and also thanked “the voters from all across Westchester County, for their vote. We will do what is best for Westchester.”In the end, this race was about Spano and taxes. Voters in Westchester were fed up with both and elected Astorino, who ran a perfect campaign. His message in a nutshell? — Say no to Spano taxes.

Astorino’s victory also means that despite a huge Democratic enrollment edge in Westchester, voters cast their votes based on the candidate and not the party. Astorino’s presence on the Independence Party line was huge, and the 8 percent that he received on that line may have been the margin of victory.

The voters of Westchester have spoken — they want change. In the other two big countywide races, incumbent District Attorney Janet DiFiore won re-election with 53 percent of the vote. Republican Dan Schorr received 36 percent and Independence Party candidate Tony Castro got 10 percent.

In the race for county clerk, incumbent Democrat Tim Idoni won reelection, defeating Robert Morabito, 52 percent to 46 percent. Idoni’s victory was much closer than most had expected.