Cavallo and Independence Party Denies Yonkers Amicone Republicans: Why? — Sam Zherka

Dr. Giulio Cavallo

 

In our previous post, we printed the press release from Westchester Independence Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo, who made his endorsements for Yonkers City Council. Cavallo gave the Independence nomination to Ted Winnicki in the Sixth District, John Rubbo in the Fourth District, Virginia Perez in the Second District, and Chuck Lesnick for council president.

Cavallo denied three Republicans the Independence Line — John Larkin in the sixth, Dennis Shepard in the fourth, and Jim Castro-Blanco for council president. Dr. C also denied Democrat Wilson Tererro, who is the Dem Party nominee in the second.

While all four candidates endorsed by Dr. C are worthy of his endorsement, Cavallo usually mixes up his endorsements with Dems and Reps to hedge his political bet. This time in Yonkers, he chose all Dems and two long-shot picks in Rubbo and Perez.

Why? Cavallo’s relationship with Sam Zherka, publisher, Manhattan DA target, etc.

Zherka’s top three most wanted politicians are, in no particular order:

I- County Executive Andy Spano

II- District Attorney Janet DiFiore

III- Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone

Zherka’s distaste for Amicone stems from the city’s removal some of Zherka’s Westchester Guardian boxes. So Cavallo, as a favor to his friend Sam Z, denies Amicone his picks for the Independence line.

Cavallo is also annoyed at Amicone for denying him a job placement for his #2, Deputy Dhyalma Vazquez, who was being chased out of her job with the County DSS.

It is sad but true that Dr. C and Sammy Z. are deeply involved in this upcoming Westchester election.

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.”

Petioning Begins: No Surprises; Primaries Coming in September

The petition season is well under way in Yonkers and across the county. So far there have been no surprises, including any efforts to get referendums on the ballot — is Rethinking County Government waiting, or taking a pass?

In Yonkers, democrats and republicans alike are out getting their required signatures to get on the ballot. We hear that so far, all of the interested candidates are getting more than enough signatures, which will result in some primaries.

Yonkers dems are heading towards two very interesting primaries, for City Council in the Second District, and for County Board in the 17th, both representing southwest Yonkers. At the Yonkers Dem convention, Wilson Tererro was nominated to be the candidate for the Second Council District, and Jose Alvarado was nominated for County Board.  

In the Second Council District, to replace Sandy Annabi (who is term-limited on the council and running for County Board) Tererro is joined by Virginia Perez and Jose Roman. Perez, running as a team with Annabi, has enough signatures and will be on the ballot. We spoke with Roman at a recent council meeting, and he also has more than enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Roman’s experience in the district as a community organizer gives him the benefit of knowing many of the voters in the second. Perez is an attractive candidate whose main issues about crime and gangs also resonate with the residents in southwest Yonkers.

Tererro is also a strong candidate, with strong ties to the Latino business community, and who is getting the help and support of the Yonkers Dem Party and Chairman Ken Jenkins.

This one can go anyway, with all three having a legitimate shot, and remember whoever wins the primary wins the election in this huge Democratic majority district.

In the Fourth Council District, to replace Liam McLaughlin, Republicans Dennis Shepard and John Rubbo both have enough signatures to get on the ballot, meaning a GOP primary in September. Shepard will have the support of the Yonkers GOP and Chairman John Jacono, while Rubbo will run as the outsider. We also keep hearing the Rubbo will get the Independence Party line.

The 17th County Board race pits Annabi vs., Alvarado, both experienced elected officials. Alvarado has the support of the Yonkers Dem Party, and has the full support of County Executive Andy Spano.

Annabi is running as the outsider, but knows the district after representing it on the council for eight years. She is an enganging campaigner, and together with Perez, is making a lot of noise with their effort to join forces and mount an insurgent campaign

Again, all other candidates out getting signatures with all getting on the ballot.

John Rubbo — Independence Line Falls Into His Lap?

 

John Rubbo-special delivery from Vazquez & Cavallo?

John Rubbo, the young late entry into the race for City Council in the Fourth District to replace Liam McLaughlin, appears to be getting a gift of the Independence line, assuring him of a place on the ballot in November.

Rubbo is trying to get signatures to get into a GOP Primary in the fourth against Dennis Shepard. Shepard has the endorsement of Mayor Phil Amicone, and Rubbo’s decision resulted in his departure from City Hall as a staffer to the mayor.

Although Rubbo is a viable candidate for council, the Independence line could be coming his way from no work of his own, but that of Ind Party Chair’s Dhyalma Vaquez and Dr. Giulio Cavallo odd ways of picking their nominees.

With the choice between Rubbo, Shepard, and Democrat Mario Degiorgio, Vazquez and Cavallo are likely to choose Rubbo because of their animosity towards Mayor Amicone, thus eliminating Shepard, and Nick Spano, who is said to be supporting Degorgio. Spano’s support of Degiorgio has not been confirmed, but do Vaquez & Cavallo care?

If Rubbo gets the Ind line, it could create a three-way race in November between Rubbo, Shepard and Degiorgio, and it’s anyone’s guess who wins.

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.

John Rubbo for City Council — Jimmy Stewart or Kamikaze?

John Rubbo announced his campaign for Yonkers City Council Fourth District last weekend. Here is his statement:

 On Saturday, May 30, at 12 p.m. at the Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers, John Rubbo will declare his candidacy for Yonkers’ Fourth City Council District, announcing his intention to primary on the Republican Party line. After serving the people of Yonkers for the past six years as a public affairs liaison in the office of the mayor, John Rubbo, 27 years-old, will put his strong community ties and organizational knowledge to work in the City Council, offering new ideas, a fresh approach and aspiring vision for a city that too many times gets mired in old time political fights and seems left behind in a changing world.

 

“Yonkers must prosper and not merely survive. We must embrace the changing world and look to diversify the City Council so it can best represent and serve our community as a whole,” states Rubbo.

 

John’s entrance into this race marks a pivotal moment in Yonkers politics and represents the most significant prospect for change in the past decade.

“This election offers me the opportunity to implement continued advancement and stability in our community,” states Rubbo. “The City of Yonkers can no longer afford a path of complacency. The time for innovative thinking, enthusiasm and strong moral principles is at hand.”

 
Rubbo’s candidacy focuses on spurring additional private business investment to grow the non-residential tax base and lessen the tax burden for the average homeowner in the 4th district. “We must not forget that small business built this nation and it is small business that continues to shape the neighborhoods we work and raise our families in,” states Rubbo. “Government must oversee but not overstep its position in the public-private partnership with the business community. Yonkers must take a less bureaucratic approach to government’s relationship with business so that commercial activity in the city can grow.”
Additionally, Rubbo wants to ensure taxes from the 4th district are returned to the district.

 

He states, “Reinvestment of tax dollars in the Fourth District must be sought after, fought for and delivered. McLean Avenue, Yonkers Avenue, Central Park Avenue and Cross County Shopping Center all contribute millions of dollars in tax revenues to the City of Yonkers. These dollars must be reinvested into our district.”

 

Rubbo wants his district to receive its fair share of funding and reinvestment from City Hall for schools, parks, infrastructure, and police and fire stations. Neighborhood improvement initiatives need to be implemented for the district to support projects like business corridor rehabilitation programs.  

 

Rubbo also is running on a “Less is more in government” platform. He states, “Government must focus on keeping our streets safe, building a more competitive urban school district and strengthening the city through smart economic development. With both a state and county government in place, we must embrace the concept of reductions where there are duplications in service. In our schools, there must be a commitment and guarantee that our classrooms will see more budgeted dollars. Desperate times call for desperate measures when it comes to state funding for our schools.”

 
John Rubbo has been actively involved in the Yonkers community, where he has lived his entire life. He is a member of St. John the Baptist parish, and has worked alongside multiple community organizations. John’s community activities include:

          · Yonkers Columbus Day Parade – Chairman & Vice-Chair
          · Relay for Life of Yonkers – Co-Chair
          · The Order Sons of Italy in America – Financial Secretary
          · TUSKS Society – Co-Founder
          · City of Yonkers Republican District Leader
          · Saint John the Baptist Holy Name Society – President
          · Saint John the Baptist Parish Youth Group – Chairman

It’s time to elect the next generation of leadership for Yonkers.

 

City Hall Split Over Who to Support in 4th District Council Race

Dennis Shepard—–John Rubbo

 

The race to replace Liam McLaughlin as councilperson in the Fourth District has gotten more interesting over the past week. At the Yonkers GOP convention last week, Dennis Shepard won the nomination of the party, narrowly defeating Dr. Ron Volino, with Geri Esposito a distant third.

John Rubbo, a former assistant to Mayor Phil Amicone, entered the race late, and did not place his name in nomination at the convention (see previous post). Amicone and others in the mayor’s office advised Rubbo not to run, but he declined the recommendation and resigned from his job at City Hall.

But there is a split in the mayor’s office over who is the preferred candidate in the fourth — with the mayor and his top staff preferring Shepard and the younger staffers wanting Rubbo.

Rubbo shouldn’t expect the public support of any of his young turk friends on the 2nd floor of City Hall — all have been advised not to do so and they have agreed.

All signs point to a GOP primary in the Fourth in September between Shepard, Rubbo and perhaps Esposito and Volino.

Waiting in the wings is the Democratic candidate Mario Degiorgio