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.

Independence Party Candidates ‘Encouraged’ to Collect Signatures for Castro

We have heard a few complaints from Democratic candidates who also have the Independence Party line throughout Westchester, about the arm twisting they are receiving from County Independence Chair Dr. Giulio Cavallo, strongly encouraging them to collect signatures for Tony Castro, Democratic candidate for district attorney.

Castro has the Ind line, thanks to Cavallo and Sam Zherka, but he also wants to run in a Dem primary against Janet DiFiore and needs to collect a few thousand signatures in order to get on the ballot.

Dr. C has made it known that all Dem candidates with the Ind line need to help Castro get on the ballot. This puts these Dem candidates in a bad situation because the leadership of the party, and the rank and file, have nominated DiFiore.

Also what right does Cavallo have in telling the Dem Party how to conduct their primaries?

Another fact that points to serious involvement by Dr. C and Sam Z in the political elections this year in Westchester.

Dr. Giulio Cavallo

Westchester GOP Chairman Doug Colety on the Hot Seat!

doug colety

Our blog has been heating up lately, and increasing our numbers of viewers and posters, thanks to all of you — we appreciate it. Keep it coming!

Lately, a lot of focus has turned to Westchester County Republican Chairman Doug Colety. I will reprint them at the bottom of this post, but here’s my take:

Colety is very close to Westchester Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo. The two frequently travel to poltical events in Albany together, and have also formed a political alliance of sorts over the years, which has benefitted Republican candidates, who were able to run with the Republican, Independence and Conservative (an overwhelming majority of Republicans get the Conservative line, or used to) party lines, giving them a chance against Democrats, who hold enrollment edges countywide by 100,00+.

For many years Republicans benefitted from this friendship, but things changed this year. This year, Cavallo has found another friend, Sam Zherka, publisher of the Westchester Guardian, and admitted target of the Manhattan District Attonrey criminal probe.

Zherka is backing Rethinking County Government, and wants to shake things up in Westchester politics. So Cavallo, to appease his new friend, agreed to back some of Zherka’s fave politicians, most notably Tony Castro, running for DA.

But the old arrangement with Colety and Cavallo takes a back seat to the new friends — Dr. C and Sammy Z. And Republican candidates get screwed in a number of races, (a lot in Yonkers) and don’t get the Independence line.

Colety puts all of his chips in one race — county executive. He asks for the line from Dr. C, and he gets it, because its a natural fit for Sammy Z, because it denies Andy Spano, a Zherka enemy, of the Ind. line.

But most of the other Republicans who want and need the Independence Party line are being left behind by Chairman Colety, and they’re pissed.

While I need time to determine if the allegations by the posters are true, I will say that I have heard about the printing for a long time, and have had discussions with Doug about our newspapers and a possible print job, mailings etc., all completely legit.

But in my opinion, I would agree with the anonymous post that there is a cloudy line being crossed with the chairman of the Repulican Party in Westchester getting print contracts for any candidate.

Even if there is no wrongdoing, which I think is the case, just the appearance of impropriety makes it best to stop this practice.

#1-ANONYMOUS-if fresh thinking is needed in yonkers, how is it
that the IND party could possibly endorse chuck lesnick
the answer of course is that zherka’s fine hand is in
all of this…remember that zherka is now in league with
cavalo..and zherka does not like amicone or anyone who
is remotely associated with him because of the taking
of the guardian boxes…you may recall there is still
a defamation lawsuite pending against amicone by
zherka…now when you couple that with the fact that
colety sold everything he had to get astorino the IND
line…colety was left with nothing at all….and cavalo
did what zherka wanted him to do…its another reason
why these minor party cross endorsements have to be
eliminated

#2-ANONYMOUS-colety gets paid for what he does..check the number of candidates that give him printing …..bet that all the candidates endorsed by the ind party give colety their printing whether or not they have republican support….does anyone think that the republican county leader should be doing printing for a candidate not a republican….check morabito’s printing for county clerk…and castro’s printing bills….bet colety is doing them all…because its not about rebuilding the republican party its about how much money he can make

#3-Captain America-That poster earlier had it right. When are republicans going to realize that Cavallo is Colety’s pimp? Covallo controls the Westchester Independence Party AND the Westchester Republican Party. Colety is only doing Cavallo’s bidding when he double crosses Amicone. Colety shouldn’t be trusted by real republicans.

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.

Cavallo Leaning on Dems to Support Tony Castro for DA at Dem Convention on Wednesday

 

The upcoming Westchester Democratic convention tomorrow has one race that everyone is talking about. Who gets the nomination for district attorney?

Incumbent DA and former Republican Janet DiFiore, as well as Tony Castro, are the two vying for the party nod. DiFiore has received the endorsement of the County Democrat Executive Committee and many of the local party endorsements throughout the county.

But there are pockets of Castro support that we have heard about. This support comes from Dems who worked on Castro’s two prior races for DA in 2001 and 2005.  Other Castro support comes from diehard Democrats who believe that Castro is the real Democrat in the race, and DiFiore a Republican in disguise.

It gets interesting here — we have heard from several Democrats in different Westchester locales that Westchester Independence Party Chairman Dr. Giulio Cavallo has been “lobbying” Democratic district leaders to support Castro.

How can Cavallo, chair of the Independence party, attempt to intervene in the Democratic Convention, to be held on Wednesday at the county center? By using his party’s line to Dems running for office this fall.

We know who these few Dems are but don’t want to name them because they have not accpeted Cavallo scurrilous invitations.

Dr. Cavallo is pushing hard for Castro, which is an indication of his ever-closer political friendship with Sam Zherka, Westchester Guardian publisher, and admitted target of the Manhattan DA.

We have it once again folks, and we should be ashamed. Cavallo is working his black magic on another important county election.

When will it end and when are the Feds coming?

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?

Westchester DA Janet DiFiore Kicks Off Re-Election Bid; Attempts to Disturb Event Backfire

     

 

  Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore kicked off her re-election campaign last week outside the county courthouse in White Plains. Surrounded by hundreds of supporters, DiFiore said she was looking forward to the upcoming campaign, and will run on her record of protecting Westchester families over the past four years.

     “The employees of the Westchester County District Attorney’s office have served with honor, integrity and a deep and abiding respect for the rule of law. I ask each and every one of you to stay focused on the truth and on the facts,” said DiFiore.

     DiFiore’s announcement was marred by an attempt by her opponents to disturb the event. After attempting to shout DiFiore down, a few protestors escalated into physical confrontations with the crowd. These supporters included supporters of Tony Castro, one of DiFiore’s opponents this fall.

     “Tony Castro’s supporters tried unsuccessfully to disrupt my re-election announcement. Shame on Tony for being associated with people like that. My work keeping the people of Westchester County safe and secure is much too important to be disrupted. I will not be distracted or intimidated by their bully tactics,” said DiFiore.

     While most of the other Westchester media focused on the disruption, they missed two key elements in DiFiore’s announcement.

- DiFiore had with her the leadership of the Westchester Democratic Party and County Chairman Reginald LaFayette, County Executive Andy Spano and County Clerk Tim Idoni. DiFiore, who won as a Republican four years ago, switched parties last year and is now a Democrat, with the support of the Democratic Party, over Tony Castro.

- DiFiore can run on a record of achievement in Westchester of keeping the residents safe and secure. This election will come down to who the voters of Westchester believe will protect them, and are they satisfied with the current DA? DiFiore will likely face off against Castro in a Democratic Primary this September, with the winner facing Republican DA candidate Dan Schorr.

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.