Some Dems Refusing to Carry Andy Spano Petitions: Idoni vs. Morabito Double Dip?

Here’s the latest election / petition news we have been hearing:

Some Democrats in lower Westchester, are refusing and/or complaining about carrying petitions for County Executive Andy Spano. We hear that a few Dems carrying for Spano were critiqued by homeowners and property owners about sky-high property taxes, focusing their blame on Andy.

Now while these few Dems will have no impact on Spano’s petition drive, which will put him way over the top of signatures needed, its worthy of a post for two reasons.

1) Andy’s campaign runs a tight ship and they do not appreciate any signs of disloyalty to the big Westchester Dem — Andy — and they are not happy with the defections, howevery few they are.

2) It highlights the growing discontent among Westchester taxpayers feel about their government, and the cost to them and their families.

Idoni/Morabito Double Dip?

Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni will face a challenge from former Rye Supervisor Robert Morabito in November. Morabito, a Democrat, got the Republican line to challenge Idoni from County GOP Chairman Doug Colety. Colety has been criticized of late on this blog for not helping deliver the Independence Party line for a lot of his Republican candidates across the county.

Giving the GOP line to a Dem Morabito, is another Colety choice that we hear rumblings about from our Republican friends, who wonder why Colety gave the line for a countywide office to a Dem. Wasn’t there any Republican in the county willing to run for county clerk?

Morabito is now attempting to get on the Democratic line for county clerk, which would result in a Democratic Primary between Idoni and Morabito.

Here’s where it gets interesting:

Morabito is circulating a petition, that has his name on it for county clerk, but also Tony Castro’s name for district attorney.

Castro is challenging DA Janet DiFiore; both Castro and DiFiore are Dems and are headed to a Democratic Primary in September, with the winner facing Republican Dan Schorr in November.

Castro has the support of the Independence Party and its county chairman, Dr. Giulio Cavallo. Cavallo has been twisting the arms of Democrats who he gave his Ind line to to collect  Dem signatures for Tony Casto. Cavallo has jumped into bed with Sam Zherka, Guardian publisher and admitted target of a Manhattan DA criminal probe. 

So a partnership between Castro and Morabito is upon us, with Cavallo and Zherka pushing behind the scenes.

We hear that both Castro and Morabito will have enough signatures to get on the ballot, which would give us two Democratic countywide primaries in September — DiFiore vs. Castro and Idoni vs. Morabito.

The Westchester Conservative Tea Party Has Begun

 

Rob Astorino — 95 percent of Westchester Conservatives think he’s the real choice for county executive

 

Westchester Conservative Party Chair Gail Burns attempt to deliver the Conservative Party line to County Executive Andy Spano has backfired, and in the end, will cause Andy more harm than good. In addition to the outrage from rank and file conservatives, Andy has ticked off some of his fellow Democrats, who don’t want any Democrat, especially the top Democrat in the county, seeking or taking the Conservative line, which stands for so many things that are diametrically opposed to what  most Westchester Democrats believe.

The offical revolt in the Conservative Party has begun, which we dub The Westchester Conservative Tea Party.

The Westchester County Conservative Party is in full revolt, with more and more local chairmen and party members announcing each day their refusal to carry Conservative Party nominating petitions with incumbent County Executive Andy Spano’s name on them, according to Conservative Party leaders supporting Republican Rob Astorino’s (R-I) campaign for county executive.

Below is the release from the rank and file Conservative leaders:

“As of Monday more than a dozen Westchester Conservative Party leaders are refusing to carrying Andy Spano petitions. They include:  

Steven Winkelmann – Cortlandt Conservative Chairman
 
Bob Fois- Eastchester Conservative Chairman
 
Tabatha Marraccini- Harrison Conservative Chairwoman
 
Irving Scharf- Mamaroneck Conservative Chairman
 
Sue Swanson- Mount Pleasant Conservative Chairwoman
 
Vincent Masi- North Castle Conservative Chairman
 
Rosemarie Jarosz- Mount Vernon Conservative Vice-Chairwoman
 
Joe Rossini – New Rochelle Chairman  
 
Eleanore McDonald- White Plains Conservative Chairwoman
 
Hugh Fox- Yonkers Conservative Vice-Chairman
 
Richard Russo- Yorktown Conservative Chairman
 
Conservative leaders held a news conference on Friday blasting “back room shenanigans” that “hijacked” the Conservative Party nominating process Thursday night. The vote among Party leaders Thursday was 42-3 in favor of Mr. Astorino’s candidacy, but Party chairman Gail Burns used, among other things, year-old proxy ballots to nominate Mr. Spano for the position.

The highly questionable maneuver shocked Party members and leaders, many of whom have since called for Ms. Burns’s resignation as Party chairman. The Conservative Party strongly endorsed Mr. Astorino for county executive in 2005 and was widely expected to do so again this year.

“This nominating process was stolen with classic back-room dealing,” said Eastchester Conservative Party chairman Bob Fois. “But those of us fighting to save Westchester from corrupt politics and unbearable taxes are not going to take it lying down. No one I know in the Conservative Party will carry or sign a petition with tax-and-spend Andy Spano’s name on it.”

 ”This nominating process was hijacked, plain and simple,” said Yonkers Conservative Party First Vice Chairman Hugh Fox. “Virtually every Conservative leader in Westchester County supports Rob Astorino for County Executive. Andy Spano is destroying Westchester County with taxes and runaway spending. He is the last person any fiscal conservative would support.”

“Like so many others, I will not carry a petition with Andy Spano’s name on it,” Harrison Conservative Party Chairman Tabatha Marraccini said. “Westchester families are paying the highest taxes in America because of Mr. Spano. Real conservatives are supporting Rob Astorino for county executive because he will streamline Westchester government and cut taxes.”

The Insanity of Minor Parties Reaches Into Yonkers Council Races

 

  Mario Degiorgio Gets Conservative Line

I’ve been railing against the two major, minor parties’ involvement in this year’s elections for the past two months. On the county side, the Westchester Conservative Party’s endorsement of Andy Spano for County Executive has lit a firestorm over this issue, and while its glad to see people are taking a good look at the Conservative party, it’s shameful how County Conservative Chairwoman Gail Burns handed the line to Andy Spano, against the wishes of her rank and file Conservative — 95 percent of whom wanted Rob Astorino to get their line.

The minor parties have now reached Yonkers and the chaos has just begun. First the Conservatives in Yonkers nominated Jim Castro-Blanco to be their nominee for City Council President — no surprise there.

Democrat Mario Degiorgio, running in the Fourth Council District race, received the Conservative party endorsement, along with Republican John Larkin in the Sixth District, and Virginia Perez in the Second District.

The two surprises here were Degiorgio and Perez getting the Conservative line. Degiorgio is running against Republicans Dennis Shepard and John Rubbo, with Shepard and Degiorgio the two front runners. Shepard has the support of Mayor Phil Amicone, and the nomination of Degiorgio is a minor slight to him.

Similar for Virginia Perez, who continues to build momentum in her campaign to replace Sandy Annabi. Annabi has all but endorsed Perez to replace her on the council, and the two are running as a dangerous duo — with Perez running for the Second Council District and Annabi running for County Legislator against Jose Alvarado. Both races are to represent Southwest Yonkers so look for a knock on the door from Perez and Annabi soon.

The Independence Party is even more of a mess — see the next Rising Times post.

Conservatives Revolt Against Spano Endorsement!

Rob Astorino-leading conservative revolt

 

 

Rank and file Westchester Conservatives held a press conference this weekend to protest their Chairwoman Gail Burns and her decision to give the Conservative line to Andy Spano.

Many of the Conservative District leaders, and local town,village and city chairs, are refusing to collect signatures on Cons petitions with Andy’s name on it.

This means that Burns and her supporters will have to get the signatures themselves.

County Execuitve candidate Rob Astorino, who has the Republican and Independence Party lines issue the following statement:

 

“The Westchester County Conservative Party was hijacked by those who would put personal interest above fiscal reform.  Every person with knowledge of this race knows I am the fiscal conservative.

 ”Andy Spano’s spending policies are antithetical to those who care about responsible fiscal policy.  Mr. Spano raised property taxes almost 60% in the last seven years alone, and he doubled county spending during his 12-year tenure.  His budget is larger than the budgets of 87 nations.  Thousands of struggling taxpayers and small businesses have voted with their feet by moving to Connecticut to avoid the Spano taxes,” said Astorino.

Political Conspiracy Gives Andy Spano Conservative Line

Andy Spano-Conservative?

This ain’t 2001 folks — the times they are a changin’.

On Thursday,  the Westchester Conservative Party met secretly, and in a scene reminiscent of the prior Westchester political escapades, endorsed Andy Spano for re-election as County Executive.

The Conservative’s endorsement for county exec was hijacked by its own chair, Gail Burns, who held the proxies of district leaders necessary to hand the Liberal Democrat Andy Spano the Conservative Party’s nomination.

Although warned about this possibility for weeks (and we shared our warnings with our readers), the fact that it actual happened is still shocking. While we are embarrassed that this is happening again in Westchester, we are overjoyed with the response from rank and file Conservatives, and also from believers in fair government in general.  This ain’t 2001 folks, and the times they are a changing.

Let’s break this endorsement down three ways: Why it was made, Who were the real dealmakers and what happens next.

Why would Gail Burns, a lifelong Conservative, whose father Anthony Aurrichio served as County Conservative Chairman before her, give the endorsement to Andy Spano, a lifelong Democrat, who fired Aurrichio from his county job years ago. Why would she go against her party’s ideology, her fellow district leaders and local chairs, and go against her conscience?

It’s clear that Gail wouldn’t make this rash decision on her own, although that’s what she will probably tell you. Gail worked in the office of former State Senator Nick Spano before landing her current job a few years ago after Nick’s loss to Sen.  Andrea-Stewart Cousins, at Yonkers City Hall in Mayor Phil Amicone’s office.  

Somebody whispered in Gail’s ear to give the Consservative line to Andy.  Who was it? Nick Spano and Mayor Amicone are the two likely culprits because of Burns’ employment situation and loyalties.

Mayor Amicone had nothing to do with Burns’ decision, and wanted the exact opposite to happen, and is feeling the heat to fire Burns (more on this later). Which leaves Nick Spano  as suspect #1.

Why would Nick Spano want Andy to get the Conservative line?  Because Nick is seeking Andy’s support for Nick’s brother Mike Spano, and his quest to become the next Mayor of Yonkers.  Assemblyman Mike switched to a Democrat two years ago, and Andy’s support, and Andy’s ability to get others out of the race, would be a good help to Mike and Nick.

So Nick gives Andy the Conservative Party line, in return for Andy’s support of Mike Spano in two years.  So Nick reaches  long-time political ally Gail Burns, who endorses Andy.

Some bloggers, like Bob Fois, have this conspiracy reaching up to Albany, with former Deputy County Exec Larry Schwartz, who now works for Governor David Paterson, getting the governor to intervene and make a phone call or two.  This also makes sense and could be a result of Nick Spano, with 25 years of experience in the capital and his new role as lobbyist, getting Albany involved.

Burns’ benefit will be a county or state job if she is fired from Yonkers City Hall. This endorsement puts Mayor Amicone is a position he didn’t want to be in and had nothing to do with. Amicone is under pressure from Republicans, furious at Burns for endorsing Andy and not Rob Astorino for county exec and want Burns fired yesterday.

The mayor doesn’t want to start a fight with the Spano by firing Burns, and has his own slate of Republican council candidates this November that he wants elected. If the Mayor ticks off the Spano, they may either not help the GOP candidates or actively work against them.

 

Dealmakers: Nick Spano, Andy Spano, Gail Burns and Larry Schwartz

What Happens Next: 

It appears from the initial backlash that this plan will backfire on Andy Spano and negate any benefit he gets from the Conservative line. Real Democrats are upset that Andy took the line, Independents may be swayed by the appearance of another “fixed election” and vote Astorino.  Republicans and Conservatives may be fired up to make sure Andy doesn’t win and rally to Astornio. This is best case for Astorino.

Another option is that Andy rides out this storm like the others over the years, and this is forgotten about over the summer. He rides the wave of a 100,000 Dem enrollment edge to re-election.

Although these actions are not criminal, we wonder what impact if any, this has on the US Attorney’s probe of political corruption in Westchester, long overdue to pop.

This endorsement not only hurts Astorino, but his supporters, or the anti-Andy crowd. County Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo stuck out his neck and supported Astorino.  The Rethinking County Government crowd, led by Sam Zherka, cannot be pleased with this result.

One closing thought: can we all agree to this rule about minor party elections — the same candidate should not have both the Conservative Party and Working Families Party line for any election. Their political ideologies are at complete opposites, with both trying to rub out the others existence.

Yet, Andy Spano will have both lines this November.

Andy Spano Campaign Manager Says “We Did Not Seek the Independence Party Line”

We recently spoke with Paul Bader, campaign manager for Andy Spano’s re-election for county executive. Bader challenged our coverage of the Independence Party’s role in the county executive’s race.

Recently, the Independence Party endorsed Rob Astorino for county executive, and numerous sources have told us that the Spano campaign was actively seeking the nomination, including using the $100,000 county DSS job of Dhyalma Vazquez, Yonkers Independence Chair, as a bargaining chip.

Bader called our coverage “totally erroneous.” “We were not interested in the Independence Party this year. It wasn’t a question of a choice being made we were never interested, and no effort was made.”

Possible reasons why the Spano campaign wasn’t interested in the Independence Party include the relationship betwee West Ind Chair Dr. Guilio Cavallo and Sam Zherka, publisher of the Westchester Guardian and an admitted target of a Manhattan DA criminal probe.

Zherka is the driving force behind Rethinking County Government, which aims to ablolish county government and the office of County Executive. Zherka also pulled out of obscurity Dave Spano, son of Andy, who railed against county government and tried to run for his dad’s job, clearly irritating Andy and Co.  “We didn’t want the line because of the relationship with strip club owner Sam Zherka. It’s not an association that Andy wanted to have,” said Bader.

“The Independence party endorsed Astorino, and there appears to be a relationship between the Independence Party, Astorino, and Sam Zherka-he’s supporting him,” said Bader.  

This is a clear indication of how the Andy Spano campaign, and others, will run this fall’s campaign-They intent to highlight the link between Zherka and any candidate he endorses.

This strategy was used in the race for Yonkers mayor two years ago, with Democrat Dennis Robertson gettting the support of Zherka, but having it backfire and used against him by Mayor Phil Amicone.

While all of Spano’s reasons are rational, we remind our fellow bloggers about the stories we have all heard about Dr. Cavallo looking for a job for Dhyamla around Westchester. Why would Cavallo do it if Dhyamla’s county job was safe?

Regarding the Conservative Party nomination for county executive, to be held on Thursday, Bader said “there is an interest and a willingness from us and is a line that we would welcome.”

“Andy has had the Conservative line in the past, and one of their biggest issues is fiscal constraint and under Andy Spano Westchester has a AAA bond rating. I hope we do get the line,” said Bader.

Bader’s comments on Andy’s conservative record may be seen as a stretch to some, but point to a real possibility that Andy gets the Conservative Party line tomorrow night, which is a big problem for Astornio, who needs every line he can get in his challenge to Andy.

Cavallo Takes on the Spanos to Get a Job for Dhyalma Vazquez

Westchester Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio is getting desperate to find a cozy job for his right hand, Dhyalma Vazquez, the Yonkers chair of the Independence Party.

Cavallo is feeling the heat from the campaign of County Executive Andy Spano, who is running for re-election and wants the Independence line. Vazquez currently works for the county DSS, at a salary of over $100,000. The Spano forces are leaning on Dr. C to stop his alliance with Sam Zherka and Dave Spano — Andy’s son.

Cavallo is in a pickle, and has completely flipped on politicians he has supported, and benefitted from, in the past — most notably Andy Spano and District Attorney Janet DiFiore. He needs to appease Zherka and sees $$$.

While Dr. C has already pitched a Vazquez job at City Hall, he has been rejected. But Cavallo has returned to Yonkers in another effort to secure a job for him, and he is once again using the Independence Party to get it.

Cavallo now wants Vazquez to be appointed a deputy city clerk, and is demanding that the current deputy, Vinny Spano, be replaced. Cavallo is using his Ind. line endorsement to “lean” on members of the City Council to appoint Vazquez. (Kudos to Hezi for getting this information  first — I confirmed it and add the following:)

This pits Cavallo against the Spanos, incluidng Nick Spano, who is another old Cavallo ally now on his s*** list.  Dr. C has been ranting about Nick lately, and the attempted removal of Nick’s brother, Vinny, is an indication of flip flop on all the Spanos — Andy, Nick and Vinny.

The Democrats on the City Council control who gets appointed deputy clerk and what, if any, changes are made. While it is unlikley that the council will buckle to Cavallo’s demands, Cavallo can use the Ind line endorsement against Council President Chuck Lesnick, who is running for re-election and wants the line.

Isn’t there a saying about playing both sides and getting burned in the end?

Cavallo Up To His Old Tricks Westchester Independence ‘Club’ Holds Fund Raiser

There has been confusion about the Independence Party in New York state ever since the party was vaulted into prominence by Tom Golisano, who built up the party and ran as their candidate for governor three times in the 1990s and beyond.

If a N.Y. resident registers to vote and doesn’t want to be a Dem, or Rep, or Cons, or a Working Families party member, they have two choices: They can either register with the Independence Party or they can choose not to register to any party – thus the confusion.

Here in Westchester, Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo has confused matters even further by creating a Westchester Independence Club. Cavallo has used the club over the years as a political operating slush fund for the Westchester Independence Party. Fundraisers for the club have been held over the years, with no financial records of the money raised from the event with the Westchester Board of Elections.

Cavallo held such a fundraiser last week, which was well attended by many elected officials seeking to get Cavallo’s endorsement. Two candidates for district attorney, Tony Castro and Dan Schorr, attended Cavallo’s event, which one person who attended characterized as a “kiss the ring of Cavallo” event.

While Schorr attended with the hopes of getting Cavallo’s nomination, all signs lead toward Cavallo endorsing Castro, as proof by Cavallo’s nasty personal attacks on DiFiore at the event.

Also at the event was Sam Zherka, who, together with Cavallo, is on a pro-Castro/anti-DiFiore crusade.

Cavallo’s biggest problem is who to endorse for county executive. Incumbent Andy Spano wants the line, and as another commenter told us, has indicated to Cavallo that he will have to find another job for his right hand, Yonkers Independence Party Chair Dhyalma Vazquez, who currently holds a six-figure job with the County Department of Social Services.

Cavallo wants to endorse someone else for county executive, namely David Spano, Andy’s son who appeared in a TV commercial in support of eliminating county government and who appeared at a recent Rethinking County Government tea party rally in White Plains, announcing his candidacy against his father.

Zherka wants Cavallo to endorse Dave Spano and give him the Independence line, but the Dr. is caught in a pickle. What to do?