Rubbo, Winnicki, Perez and Lesnick Get Independence Nominations

 

Ted Winnicki                      John Rubbo

Westchester County Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo finally released his endorsements for Yonkers City Council. See his statement below, which criticizes  Mayor Phil Amicone while endorsing Ted Winnicki in the Sixth Council District, John Rubbo in the fourth, Virginia Perez in the second and Chuck Lesnick for council president.

While Cavallo’s statement says that Perez and Lesnick were previously given the endorsement, this fact was never released to the press or the public officially until today, with a few candidates not wanting to say anything until Cavallo  made the announcement. 

Obviously this news is good news for all four candidates:

Winnicki — This gives Winnicki a better chance in his race against Republican John Larkin to succeed Dee Barbato in the Sixth District. 

Perez — This gives Perez three party lines – Independence, Conservative and Working Families – going into the Democratic primary in the Second District against Wilson Tererro and Jose Roman. Perez’s partnership with Sandy Annabi, (who is running in the same southwest Yonkers neighborhood for County Board) we are told, was crucial to Perez getting one or more of these lines.

Rubbo — We have heard and posted about this for a week or so, but its still a good boost for Rubbo, who will face off against Dennis Shepard in the GOP primary to represent the Fourth District. Democrat Mario Degiorgio, who also has the Conservative and Working Families lines, is waiting to see if he will be running againts Rubbo, Shepard or both.

Lesnick — again, although expected, is a big win for the incumbent council president, and may eliminate any hopes of Republican Jim Castro-Blanco. Lesnick also has the Working Families Party line, with Castro-Blanco getting the Conservative line.

Analysis — There are two big losers in the Independence party charade: Tererro and Degiorgio:

Tererro — was viewed as a pro-Amicone candidate by Cavallo, who obviously has an axe to grind against the mayor, and any candidate that is even perceived to be close to him. Throw Dennis Shepard into this bunch.

Degiorgio — was given the Independence line only to have it taken away by Cavallo and Yonkers Indepdence Chair Dhyalma Vazquez. While the removal of the line from Degiorgio was said to be because he announced it before Cavallo did, we hear that the real truth was that some type of deal was cut by Cavallo and someone else to deny Degiorgio the Independence line and give it to Rubb0, who rejected the advice of the mayor not to run, and quit his job at City Hall to run.

Following is Cavallo’s statement:

Winnicki, Rubbo Complete Independence Party Picks for Yonkers Council Party Chief Stresses Need for ‘New Thinking’ After 14 Years of Amicone

           Dr. Giulio Cavallo, chairman of The Independence Party of Westchester, announced today the completion of its endorsements for city elections in Yonkers with its support of a Democrat, Ted Winnicki, for Council Member in District 6 and John Rubbo, a Republican, for Council Member in District 4.

            “In this tough fiscal climate, Yonkers desperately needs an infusion of new thinking after 14 years of Phil Amicone at the helm,” Cavallo said. “We think the mature judgment of Ted Winnicki and the fresh ideas of John Rubbo are the right blend of innovative and independent thinking that will result in good government for Yonkers.”

             “Ted Winnicki has proven he has the mettle to stand up in tough situations and his experience as a small business-owner should be invaluable in helping solve Yonkers’ recurring fiscal crises,” Cavallo said.  “John Rubbo had the courage to walk away from a safe City Hall job to pursue his interest in public service and that is exactly the kind of courageous independence our party admires and encourages.”

            Winnicki, 59, is a Yonkers small business-owner (AC Technologies, Inc.) and a decorated  Marine Corps Vietnam combat veteran.  He presently serves as President of the Yonkers Federation of Youth, Inc.  and is the Past President of the Bryn Mawr Boys and Girls Club, Winnicki holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from SUNY Purchase and is married with three children.  The Winnickis make their home on Mile Square Road.

 Rubbo, 27, is a lifelong Yonkers resident who currently works in the merchant processing industry and has a long history of community service including Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Columbus Day Parade Committee, President of the Holy Name Society and Chairman of the Parish Youth Group at Saint John the Baptist and co-founder of the TUSKS Society, a community service and advocacy organization for young adults.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Iona College in Communications and an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Manhattan College.

 Today’s announcement completes the Independence Party slate for November’s Yonkers City Council election.  Previously, the party endorsed incumbent City Council President Chuck Lesnick (D) for re-election and Virginia Perez (D) for election to the Second District seat being vacated by Sandy Annabi due to term limits.

 “Tragically, Virginia Perez knows firsthand the consequences of failing to keep Yonkers’ streets and homes free of violence,” Cavallo said. “Together with Ted Winnicki and John Rubbo, she will help form an independent Council majority to give the City Council President the support he needs for the Council to become an effective check on the administration.”

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?

The Unholy Alliance? Colety, Cavallo and Zherka

 

Doug Colety

Westchester GOP  Chairman Doug Colety is taking a lot of heat from fellow Republicans for his recent attendance at a fundraising event for Tony Castro. Castro, a Democrat, has run for Westchester district attorney on two occasions, and is said to be considering a third run for DA. It’s easy to see why republicans would be a bit peeved that their leader and chairman, Colety, was seen and photographed at a fundraiser for a prominent Democrat, Castro.

 

Colety was caught recently on the pages of the Westchester Guardian at the fundraiser with Westchester Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo and Castro. We spoke to Colety, who told us, “I was invited to an event by Dr. Giulio Cavallo to honor Tony Castro, who, as far as I know, has not announced that he is running for anything.”

“The Republican Party does have candidates (plural) interested in running for DA, all of which will be interviewed by the executive committee and nominated at the convention by the rank and file,” Colety said. “I will not be selecting the candidates alone, and there is a process that we will be going through next year. My attendance at the event in no way should indicate that I’m supporting any candidate.”

When we followed up with Colety and asked if Castro could be the Republican candidate for DA next year, he called it “total nonsense. My feeling about Tony Castro’s bid to run, if he decides to run in a Democratic primary, is that I believe he is best served running without the Republican endorsement. Strategically, in a Democratic primary, a Democrat cannot win with the Republican line.”

But Colety added this caveat to his friend Cavallo, saying, “If the Independence Party asks us to interview a candidate whom they are supporting, we will consider doing so. My friendship with Dr. Cavallo will benefit Republican candidates throughout the county.”

There is no disputing that Colety and Cavallo share a strong political alliance that has turned into a friendship over the years, and if Doc Cavallo asked Colety to come to this event, he would do so. It is also true that the two political parties that Cavallo and Colety preside over  need to work together in order for Republicans to have any chance of remaining a viable party here in Westchester. This is another reason for Colety to appear at this event for Cavallo.

But that’s where the rationale for Colety attending this event ends. Here’s the other side of the argument against Colety attending. First, this was not an event for Cavallo, or his Independence Party. It was for a Democratic candidate for district attorney very likely to be running again, and possibly running against the Republican Party’s candidate for DA, in 2009.  If Cavallo asked Colety to attend a Hillary or Obama event, would he do it?

Second, as Colety stated above, there is more than one Republican candidate interested in running for DA next year. Dan Schor is the one DA candidate from the GOP already actively campaigning and raising money, and yes, some of the rumblings we heard about Colety attending the Castro event came from Schor supporters (but we got calls and e-mails from Republicans from Yonkers, Harrison and Rye complaining about the photo in the Guardian).

Third, the growing relationship between Colety, Cavallo and Westchester Guardian Publisher Sam Zherka deserve mention, and attention from the powers that be. Cavallo and Zherka have become friends over the past year after a group led by Zherka attempted to overthrow Cavallo from power as Westchester Independence Party chairman. Since then, the two have formed a mutual opppostion to current District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

When Cavallo brings his good friend Doug Colety into the mix with Zherka and co., you have a very powerful and dangerous political alliance. In theory, a political candidate, who has the blessing of Sam Zherka, could easily have two political party lines to run on here in Westchester: the Republican and Independence lines.

This is what got Republicans and others in Westchester so upset about the photo in the Guardian; most thought this meant that Castro was going to attempt to get the Republican line. While Colety disputed those rumors in his quotes to us, he may have simply backed off the idea because of all the intense opposition to it.

One thing is clear: that photo, assumed to be taken by Guardian Editor-in-Chief Richard Blassberg, did not have the intended outcome. It exposed Colety, Cavallo and Zherka and put them all on the hot seat.  It also didn’t  help Blassberg’s eternal candidate for DA, Castro. Or is this what Dick wanted to do all along — expose this unholy alliance to the public? But how can you justify that to your boss, or does Sam even understand this?  

Let’s also realize that current DA Janet DiFiore is now a Democrat, so if Castro wants to challenge DiFiore again in 2009, he must do so in a Democratic primary.

More analysis on this upcoming race , and the unoly alliance,  in our next post.