Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, 2nd right, with L-R-Councilwoman Deana Robinson, Mayor Mike Spano and Council Majority Leader John Rubbo at her victory celebration on June 24
Collins-Bellamy Beats 4 Democrats in Yonkers Council President Primary
Politopolous Wins GOP Primary for Council President
Pineda-Isaac Wins Dem Primary for Council 2nd District
By Dan Murphy
City Council President Lakisha Collins-Bellamy had a decisive victory on June 24, winning the Democratic primary for reelection over four opponents. Collins-Bellamy got 38% of the vote, with former Council President Mike Khader second with 25%, former Council President Chuck Lesnick with 18%, Councilwoman Tasha Diaz with 9% and Peter Spano with 9%.
The total number of votes cast in the primary was 7,679 lower than expected. This benefited Collins-Bellamy, who had the support and endorsement from the Yonkers Democratic Party.
Final vote totals from the Westchester Board of Elections, including early voting and absentee voting.
Lakisha Collins-Bellamy-2,928
Mike Khader-1,947
Chuck Lesnick-1,401
Tasha Diaz-706
Peter Spano-697
Total votes-7679
This was the first election, (primary or general) where three current or former council presidents faced off against each other. Collins-Bellamy overcame that challenge, and the barrage of negative mailings from Mike Khader’s campaign.
None of the negativity made a difference because the people of Yonkers spoke in the ballot box and said they wanted more Lakisha!
Some of the emails coming into Yonkers Rising and Yonkerstimes.com include:
“I agree that Lakisha Collins-Bellamy has served our city with dignity and a reserve that is uncommon for politicians, who also seem to want to be at the forefront of every event and photo opportunity.
“I appreciate that our council president gets the work of the council done professionally, no games. I like the way our city is going, and I want it to continue. Just look at New York City to see where we could be,” said democrat Carol McKechnie.
Another Yonkers democrat wrote, “Lakisha is the story of living the American Dream, working hard and raising your family. She is a God-fearing mother with a solid core of honesty. I enjoyed meeting her, but more important, I appreciate the work she does on the council. “
Collins-Bellamy now moves onto a November election against Republican Dean Politopoulus, who won the republican primary for Council President against Ron Schutte.
Politopoulus got 65% of the vote, to 35% for Schutte.
Republican vote totals in the Yonkers primary were also low, with Politopoulos receiving 1,596 votes and Schutte receiving 861. The fact that fewer than 2,500 Yonkers Republicans came out to vote during a time of civil war in the YGOP was disappointing to some.
One long-serving democrat incumbent, Councilwoman Corazon Pineda-Isaac, fought off a challenge from Alberto Velazquez, by a 2-1 margin, with Pineda-Isaac with 67% and Velazquez with 33%.
Editor’s Note: Our best wishes and a speedy recovery to Chuck Lesnick who suffered a heart attack while on the campaign trail just before the primary Lesnick was campaigning with Councilwoman Pineda-Isaac when it happened; she called 911 and Lesnick was taken to a hospital, where a stent was placed and he is doing fine. Take it easy for the summer Chuck!
