Dennis Robertson for City Council: He’s In, Then Out — Now He’s Back In

3rd District council candidate Dennis Robertson

The race for City Council in the 3rd District took an odd turn when former Councilman Dennis Robertson, who got the Democratic nomination at the convention to run for his old Third District City Council seat in May. He bowed out of the race last month, telling Yonkers Rising, “my heart’s not in it.” Now, in an odd turn of events for the race for the Third District, Robertson is now back in the race for his old seat.

Here’s what happened; Robertson’s name was placed on the Democratic Party’s petitions along with their candidate for mayor and other council seats. When Robertson bowed out, it put the Democratic Party leaders in a difficult situation. They either had to woo Robertson back into the race, or pick another candidate to fill the vacancy created by Robertson’s departure.

There were three candidates that the Democrat’s Committee to Fill Vacancies (comprised of Democratic City Chair Symra Brandon, former Chair Pauline Galvin and Board of Elections Deputy Commissioner Jeannie Palazola) could have chosen to replace Robertson. They are Mike Rotanelli, Michael Sabatino and Sam Borelli.

While Rotanelli and Sabatino are actively campaigning, Borelli is not and wanted to be handed the place on the ballot. After speaking with several Democratic leaders, we found that the party was NOT convinced — or satisfied — that Rotanelli, Sabatino or Borelli could win in the fall.

Two members of the City Democratic Executive Committee commented on how bringing Robertson back “would get us off the hook” of having to pick his replacement. After Borelli had the lead from the several ward leaders in the 3rd council district, a decision was made to reach out to Robertson and have him stay on the ballot. The last day that Robertson could have declined to run was Monday, so he is officially on the ballot in the Democratic primary in September.

One reason given was that the 3rd council district — formerly held by Republicans John Spencer and Richard Martinelli — is a conservative district with many Democratic Catholics, who would not vote for Sabatino.

“I have great confidence that the constituents in the Third District are long past old bigotries and will judge me on my qualifications, accomplishments and abilities,” said Sabatino

Another reason dandied out is that Robertson has experience on the city council and that, if Council President Chuck Lesnick is elected mayor, Robertson could be appointed interim council president and run for that office, keeping it in democrats hands.

We do not agree with the decision of the Democratic leadership and believe that they have missed an opportunity to support either one of the two candidates actively running in this race, Rotanelli and Sabatino. We think that both candidates are qualified and can win in November. While we also think that Borelli is qualified, he did not actively campaign or circulate petitions.

We also know and respect Robertson’s service toYonkers, his qualifications and his political skills. If Robertson made a decision in June to get out of the race, he meant it and is only returning for reasons other than serving his constituents to the best of his ability.

One Democrat said “the consensus is this was an example of bad leadership in the party” and we agree.

Editor’s Note: We did speak to several leaders of the City Democratic Party, but did not speak to Brandon or Robertson.

Editor’s Note: In this week’s issue of Yonkers Rising, we said that the executive committee was convinced or satisfied—it should read was NOT convinced or satisfied and corrected above.

 

24 Candidates Step Forward To Run for Mayor & Council

City Council candidate Katherine Brezler at a senior center in East Yonkers

With the petitioning process now over, the 24 Democratic and Republican candidates for Mayor and City Council must now wait and see if their signatures stand up to challenges from their competitors.

Here’s the latest:

Mayor: 1,000 Valid Signatures Required

Democrats Mike Spano and Chuck Lesnick both filed more than enough signatures to avoid a challenge. Spano got 3,900 signatures, besting every candidate inYonkers. Lesnick obtained a healthy 3,362.

Spano touted his volume of signatures, saying “Today’s announcement continues the campaign’s growing momentum and is another indicator that Democrats across Yonkers are united in providing a new direction at City Hall focused on educational opportunity and economic growth, as well as ending the years of running Yonkers by crisis and blame. This is more than a campaign for mayor — this is a movement for a new direction in our city. Together, we will moveYonkersforward.”

Lesnick said, “I think it’s significant to note that over two-thirds of democrats who signed petitions did not sign for the party’s choice [Mike Spano]. It’s a wide open race.”

Dr. Robert Flower, another democrat, handed in 3,800. Shirley Thompson left the race.

Spano was the Democratic City Committee’s choice for mayor, so the rank and file Democratic District and Ward members collected signatures on his behalf, boosting his total.

Three republicans filed petitions for mayor — Council Minority Leader John Murtagh, former Council President Richard Martinelli and former Councilman Carlo Calvi. Each collected more than enough signatures to thwart a challenge from any other.

Martinelli topped the field with 2,030 signatures. Murtagh, the Yonkers GOP-endorsed candidate, filed with 1,940 and Calvi with 1,830.

“I obtained many of the signatures personally and with the help of over 50 unpaid volunteers,” said Calvi. “It was a pleasure to meet the hundreds of people who signed. I thank them and concur in the reoccurring sentiment which they expressed; thatYonkersneeds to be fixed in many ways, such as taxes, education, waste in City Hall, crime and developer give-aways. I’m not sure of the same about my opponents who appear to have sat back, taken it easy (one of them is reputed to have gone on a nice vacation) while the work was done.”

Martinelli said, “This week, we filed over 2,000 signatures with the Westchester County Board of Elections. They are the signatures of rank and file Republicans who share my belief that, if Yonkers is to grow and flourish, we must cut spending and rein in government so as to lower the tax burden that is breaking that back of so many of our citizens.

“The status-quo doesn’t work anymore. In these tough economic times, we must work together to create an atmosphere inYonkersthat will attract new businesses, new jobs and new opportunity for all our residents.”

Murtagh issued a statement supporting Inspector General Dan Schorr’s audit of the Yonkers Federation of Teachers’ Welfare Fund and Calvi issued a letter on eliminating patronage.

Cavli also has the Independence Party line for mayor. The Conservative Party and Working Families Parties have yet to endorse a mayoral candidate.

 

3rd City Council candidate Mike Rotanelli

City Council, 1st District:

472 Valid Signatures Required

Five democrats and one republican filed petitions for City Council in the First District. They are:

Democrat Mark Hynes filed an impressive 1,100 signatures — 550 of which were collected solely by his father. Hynes narrowly lost a Democratic mini-convention for the nomination to Christopher Johnson.

Johnson matched Hynes with an equally impressive 1,100 signatures of his own. “We tried to make sure there was real support out there,” said Johnson.

Ivy Reeves, Lawrence Sykes and Derryl Beasley rounded out the field.

Republican Brian Carter filed his petitions for his uphill battle in this overwhelmingly Democratic district.

City Council, 3rd District:

412 Valid Signatures Required

This one gets complicated. Three democrats have filed petitions.

Former Councilman Dennis Robertson was the Democratic party’s nominee and was on the party’s petitions. Robertson, who quit the race last month but is now back submitted 525 signatures.

Democrat Mike Rotanelli topped all contenders in the Third District with an impressive 1,150 signatures. “Although it was a lot of hard work and many hot days,” said Rotanelli, “it was great meeting so many wonderful people. The experience has been completely motivating. I am looking forward to campaigning in the streets continuing to go door to door meeting people and getting to know the issues which are most important to them.”

Democrat Michael Sabatino submitted 635 signatures. Democrat Lamont Badru has withdrawn.

There were also three republicans who filed in the Third District; John Bryant — a democrat who received the GOP nomination —, Michael Sweeney and Michael Myer, all submitted petitions. Their numbers are unknown.

City Council, 5th District:

432 Valid Signatures Required

Democrat Kathleen Thomas submitted 700 signatures, while Democrat Katherine Brezler submitted approximately 500.

Brezler, who collected each and every signature on her petition herself, said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We need to get our residents back to work on our roads and buildings; preventative maintenance will save our city from crisis care, which is more costly.

“Our children are our most valuable resource,” Brezler continued. “Our school budget has perceptual budget gaps which forces us to cut building improvement projects, teachers and other vital staff. For too long, the people have been divorced from the process. We need to do what’s right for our future. It’s what’s best for our fiscal house, our safety and our families.”

Three Republicans — Mike Breen, Joe Crotty and Stephen Cerrato — submitted petitions in the Fifth District.

Editor’s Note: In this week’s issue of Yonkers Rising, we incorrectly spelled the first name of Katherine Brezler in the story above.