Spano and Murtagh Win Mayoral Primaries

John Murtagh

 

Mike Spano

Mike Spano

 

 

 

 

 

Official results—the Board of Elections has finally

completed its tally of the Primary last Tuesday. With 100% of the voted counted—-

Mayor: Democratic Primary:

Mike Spano-52%-3,784

Chuck Lesnick-39%-2,783

Bob Flower-9%-651

Mayor: Republican Primary:

John Murtagh-45%-2,163

Richard Martinelli-31%-1,507

Carlo Cavli-24%-1,1,40

 

Democrats: Make Mike Mayor!

This was the cheer at Spano campaign headquarters on primary night as Mike Spano won the Democratic Primary for Mayor. Spano (52 percent) defeated Council President Chuck Lesnick (39 percent) and Bob Flower (nine percent).

“To the Democratic voters and the people of Yonkers, I’m deeply humbled and say thank you,” said Spano. “I’ve never seen a campaign where so many people came together for a better future.”

“We said from the beginning that we were going to change the debate and run a positive campaign about how we can change this city,” continued Spano, who thanked Lesnick and Flower for a fair contest.

Spano, who will now face off against republican John Murtagh in November, said that his two priority issues remain fiscal stability and education: “It’s time to replace the years of drama with long term planning and come together in partnership for a better community.”

“We can no longer have another September where our parents don’t know if there child will have a desk in pre-k, or whether they will have transportation to school, or whether there will be enough teachers. It’s time to provide stability to avoid layoffs,” said Spano, who also called for safer streets and relief to the taxpayers. “This is our opportunity. The challenges are enormous but so is our determination. It’s time to get Yonkers back on the right track.”

The Spano headquarters included supporters from the Democratic Party and city unions. While Lesnick would not concede in the days after the primary waiting for every vote to be counted, he did say on primary night, “This race was about education. We had grass roots support. Regardless of the outcome, I’m going to make sure that Yonkers has a first class education and clean our fiscal house.” Lesnick, who has the Working Families Party line for Mayor in November, said he would support the Democratic party’s nomnee 

 

 

 

 

Murtagh Wins Big in GOP Primary

Republican City Councilman and Minority Leader John Murtagh won a decisive Republican Primary for Mayor on Tuesday, receiving 45 percent of the vote. Former Council President Richard Martinelli was second with 32 percnet and former Councilman Carlo Calvi came in third with 24 percent.

“It’s humbling to be honored by the people of Yonkers who have voted for me,” said Murtagh, who congratulated Martinelli and Calvi on a hard fought race and urged all Republicans to come together. “The message is clear; the people want safe streets, great schools and an affordable place to live, and that’s what we will turn Yonkers into.

“I congratulate Mr. Spano on his victory, but the choice could not be clearer for the residents of Yonkers. It’s a choice of whether the city will move back to the politics of the past 50 years, or whether the city will move forward. If you want to know what the candidates will do as Mayor, look at what they have already done. It’s time for honest and transparent government.”

“I make one promise — when John Murtagh is elected, there will only be one Murtagh on the City of Yonkers payroll. The people are tired of the same leadership and are ready to move forward,” said Murtagh to a packed crowd of supporters, including former Councilwoman Dee Barbato and Mike Breen, winner of the GOP Primary for the Fifth District Council seat, formerly held by Murtagh.

Martinelli conceded Tuesday night and congratulated Murtagh: “It’s not in the cards. Yonkers continues to face serious challenges ahead and I will continue to speak out for the taxpayers.”

Martinelli also ran in a Conservative Primary for Mayor. He had the endorsement of the Conservative Party but write in candidates, including Mike Spano, are making the outcome uncertain. Martinelli said he would, “wait to see what happens with the Conservative Primary and make a decision then.” Martinelli will likely face pressure from Republicans to get out of the race and support Murtagh.

“We ran a positive campaign, but it got negative in the end, with both of my opponents throwing mud at me, and sometimes it sticks. In a three-way race, you never know what’s going to happen.”

It is believed that the third candidate in the race, Calvi, took votes away from Martinelli. “I think he did a good job as a spoiler.”