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.”

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.”

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 Independence Party Lost in Space in Yonkers Council Races

 

  Dr. Giulio Cavallo-strange bizzare behavior in yonkers council races 

Who will be the nominee’s of the Yonkers Independence Party for Council President, and City Council in the second, fourth and sixthDistricts? The answer remains a mystery, thanks to the shady operations of the Ind Party in Yonkers, led by Chair Dhyalma Vazquez.

First, let us clarify that as of now, nobody mentioned below has the line, and that’s the way Dhyalma and her #1, Dr. Giulio Cavallo, want it.  

For council president, all signs lead to Chuck Lesnick getting the endorsement over Jim Castro-Blanco, with Lesnick the safer choice, and Castro-Blanco, a former US Attorney, not willing to beg or offer anything to try to take it away from Chuck.

In the Sixth District, look for Democrat Ted Winnicki to get the line over Republican  John Larkin.

In the Second District, we are hearing that Virginia Perez will get the Independence line. This is another coup for Perez, who could have the Ind and Cons lines in her battle against fellow Democrat Wilson Tererro in this overwhelmingly Democratic, and Latino district.

In the Fourth District, things have gotten out of control. Dhyalma and the Ind party offered the nomination to Mario Degorgio and he accepted. We were informed of Degiorgio’s nomination and put it up on the blog.

After reading our blog, Dhyalma blew a gasket, saying that she didn’t want any information out until she issued the release, so she took the line away from Degiorgio. We actually think that Vaquez used our blog as an excuse to take the line away from Mario.

Vazquez and Cavallo are currently at odds with Nick Spano and Mayor Phil Amicone, for reasons unknown, but likely to do with the rejection of a job plea. So any candidates supported by either Nick or the Mayor are persona non grata with the Ind party.

Degiorgio, although a Democrat, is being perceived as having the support of Nick Spano, and Dennis Shepard having the support of Amicone. This is the real reason why Degiorgio got the line yanked from him and why Shepard isn’t getting the Ind line.

So who do the dynamic duo of Cavallo and Vazquez turn to? — John Rubbo. See the next Rising Times post for more.

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.

Castro-Blanco, Degiorgio and Perez Nab Conservative Council Endorsements

 

  Mario Degiorgio

Jim Castro-Blanco

Three Yonkers City Council candidates got the Conservative Party endorsement on Thursday. Jim Castro-Blanco got the Council President’s Cons nod, Mario Degiorgio got the Cons line in the 4th council district race, and Virginia Perez got the cons line in the 2nd district.

Castro-Blanco’s getting the cons line for CCP was no surprise. He needs all the lines and votes he can get in his campaign to unseat incumbent CCP Chuck Lesnick.

The races in the 2nd and 4th council were a surprise and important. In the 2nd Democrats Wilson Tererro and Virginia Perez are the two candidates. Tererro got the Yonkers Dems endorsement at the convention. Perez has been quietly building a campaign team and getting some contributions and some support we hear, including that of Councilwoman Sandy Annabi who Perez hopes to replace on the City Council.

Annabi is said to be running for county legislator against Jose Alvarado, and with both the Second Council District and Alvarado’s county leg district being basically the same southwest Yonkers neighborhoods, two alliances have been formed for two elections.

Sandy Annabi and Virginia Perez vs Jose Alvarado and Wilson Tererro. While Tererro is doing the right things, campaigning and being seen everywhere, the Annabi/Perez combination is dangerous. Two primary elections to watch here folks.

In the 4th council district, Dem candidate Mario Degiorgio got the Cons line over Dennis Shepard. Shepard had the support of Mayor Phil Amicone, and the decision of Yonkers Conservatives to endorse Degiorgio is interesting and a slight to the Mayor.

To Degiorgio’s credit, he runs with his experience and contacts from four years ago, he lost to McLaughlin but only by 300 votes in what was deemed a credible campaign.

DiFiore vs. Castro DA’s Race and the Conservative Line

 

While most eyes were on the Conservative Party’s endorsement of Andy Spano for County Executive, Conservatives also made endorsements for all other county races and local races in Yonkers (see previous post for Yonkers Cons thoughts)

Conservatives endorsed Janet DiFiore for District Attorney. DiFiore’s selection, over Tony Castro, was not a surprise. But after the result both campaigns went back and forth over the endorsement. Both DiFiore and Castro are Dems, with DiFiore switching last year, and DiFiore had the Conservative line when she ran four years ago.

Castro blasted DiFiore for taking the Cons line. “When asked by Democratic District Leaders in Lewisboro on Monday, May 11, well in advance of the Democratic county convention, which party endorsements she was seeking, DiFiore said she was seeking only the endorsements of the Democratic and Working Families lines and ruled out seeking the Independence Party line,” Castro said. 

“In a direct response to a follow up question about the Conservative Party endorsement, she specifically said she would not seek it,” said Castro who said he did not seek the Conservative line. (moot point because he had no chance of getting it)

 DiFiore blasted Castro for misleading voters on her actions in seeking the Cons line and also said that Castro did, in fact, seek the Conservative line.

“When I appeared before the Lewisboro Democratic Committee on May 11, I was not seeking the Conservative Party endorsement,” said DiFiore. “Shortly after my appearance in Lewisboro, I was invited to appear before the Conservative Party’s Executive Committee. I appeared on May 27, minutes before Mr. Castro appeared before that same body to request that they designate him as the Conservative Party’s candidate for District Attorney.  I am proud that the Conservative Party chose to endorse my work on behalf of the people of Westchester County over Mr. Castro’s lackluster record,” said DiFiore.

Westchester County Conservative Party Chair Gail Burns also refuted Castro’s claims that he didn’t seek the Cons line. “I am confused and disappointed by Tony Castro’s assertion that he had declined to seek the Conservative Party’s endorsement in his bid for Westchester County District Attorney.  Contrary to Castro’s statements, he actively sought the Conservative Party line for District Attorney this year. Castro expressed no reservations or concerns, personal or political, about running as the Conservative Party nominee; indeed, he specifically asked us to give him the line and our party’s support for his candidacy,” said Burns.

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.

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?