By Dan Murphy
One of our favorite statements from Mayor Mike Spano is that he has tried to take “the drama out of Yonkers politics. For 16 years, he has done so.
But on October 21, a community forum at Beczak took a weird and disappointing turn as an argument in the bathroom between three women turned into a heated exchange; punches were thrown, and the Yonkers Police got involved.
The three women are Kisha Skipper, a Democratic candidate for County Legislator District 15. Donna Nolan, mother of James Nolan, a Republican candidate and current County Legislator for District 15. And Stephanie Holguin, a former assistant to Skipper’s campaign, who claims that she is owed $2,000 for her services.
The incident happened during one of the debates and got so loud that people ran to the bathroom and started recording on their cell phones. One video has also appeared on Facebook from inside the bathroom.
James Nolan has posted two videos, one from inside and one from outside. Both show heated exchanges that eventually turned into punches.
Yonkers Police arrived and detained Skipper. She was not charged and later posted a video of her own on Facebook outside of the hospital with her arm in a sling. “There’s, I was not arrested; yes, information out there. No, I was not arrested; yes, I was detained pending an investigation. I was released, and there will be more information forthcoming.”
James Nolan issued the following statement after the incident.
I am deeply disturbed and outraged by the violent altercation that took place last night at the Beczak Center involving my opponent and my mother.
The incident began when a woman who claims she is owed money questioned my opponent. After walking away from the confrontation, my opponent later argued with the same woman in the restroom. My mother attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation. It wasn’t until the door was open and my opponent’s friends were behind her that she started to become violent. According to multiple eyewitnesses, my opponent then physically attacked my mother, repeatedly punching and scratching her, causing her to bleed from her face and arm.
Several witnesses have provided accounts of the incident, and cell phone recordings and surveillance footage are available for investigators to examine. Judgments should not be cast by anyone without knowledge of the situation and without having seen the evidence.
There is absolutely no justification for violence. Anyone seeking public office is expected to demonstrate sound judgment, self-control, and the ability to handle confrontation without resorting to physical aggression. These standards are not optional. This is a clear example of why she is not fit to serve public office.
Thankfully, my mother will recover. I sincerely thank the responding Yonkers police officers, paramedics, and everyone who has expressed concern for her well-being.
I have full confidence that the Yonkers Police Department and District Attorney’s Office will thoroughly investigate this incident and pursue appropriate criminal charges that are warranted.
Violence is unacceptable, accountability is essential, and nobody is above the law,” stated Nolan.
The New Horizon Foundation offered a different perspective on the videos, posting on Facebook, “Representative Nolan just put this video out targeting Keisha Skipper. We see the video but see a radically different interpretation. That young woman and Donna Nolan look like they’re cornering Keisha in the bathroom. Keisha just wanted to leave the bathroom and they’re standing right at the door intimidating her. If Donna Nolan wanted to help, she should have called someone to de-escalate the situation and get that woman to not confront Keisha in the bathroom. Instead, Donna Nolan participated in the altercation. Yonkers politics is really an embarrassment at this point.”
We do not agree with their view that Donna Nolan participated in the altercation. We don’t see that on the video.
But we also wonder whether Skipper was not allowed to leave and why Skipper was detained. Apparently, Donna Nolan was punched by Skipper; that is the allegation, and that is why we are told Skipper was detained.
Either way, it is a bad visual to have a candidate for County Legislator detained and placed in a police car at a candidate forum.
No statement yet from the YPD, and if no charges were filed, or arrests made, they don’t have to comment.
For the other candidates who participated, this incident completely undermines anything they had to say.
Both the NY Post and USA Today have picked up on this story. Seems like the political soap opera is back in Yonkers. NY Dem in wild bathroom brawl with GOP opponent’s mom during campaign event was the Post headline.
We agree with James Nolan, and will not make any judgements until all of the evidence is made public.