Williams Passed Over by Dems for Council
By Dan Murphy
The political action in Yonkers continues, with the democratic and republican executive committees lining up candidates to run for office in 2019. On the ballot this year in Yonkers will be candidates for mayor; City Council in the first, third and fifth districts; four county legislative districts; and a City Court judge seat.
Mayor Mike Spano will be running for a third term this November, after term limit modifications permit him to do so. Spano, a democrat, may face a primary opponent in Ivy Reeves if Reeves can get the required 1,000 valid signatures of Yonkers democrats.
Yonkers Republicans and Chairman Justin Tubiolo have been working under the early deadline now after changes were made to the state election calendar, moving up the clock for the primary date – now in June and not September, and to go out and collect signatures to get on the ballot – now in March and not June and July.
While Yonkers republicans will meet this weekend to finalize their nominations, Yonkers Rising has learned that former City Council candidate Mario DeGorgio is the city GOP’s choice to run for mayor. DeGorgio ran for mayor eight years ago as a democrat, losing to Councilman Dennis Shepherd.
Several years ago, DeGorgio switched parties to republican and has been active in the Yonkers GOP. The party also considered Brandon Neider, another active member of the city GOP, for mayor, but he is expected to rally behind DeGorgio this weekend.
While DeGorgio has a difficult campaign ahead – running against a popular mayor that has support from both parties – most political watchers are happy that republicans will field a candidate in November. “Justin did a good job getting candidates interested in running for mayor, and the committee was able to choose from more than one name,” said one republican. “He promised not to leave the mayor’s line empty and he accomplished that.”
The other major political story was the decision by the Yonkers Democratic Executive Committee to endorse Terrence Miller for Yonkers City Council in the First District. Yonkers democrats, in what many found to be a surprise, endorsed Miller over sitting Councilwoman Shanae Williams.
Williams was appointed to the council last year by Spano, and she was elected last November to finish the vacated term of Christopher Johnson, who was elected to the County Board of Legislators. Williams now has to run again this November for a four-year term, and will have to defeat Miller, the designated democratic candidate in a primary in June.
“It’s unfortunate that I did not receive the endorsement from the Yonkers Democratic Executive Committee, but I believe I have the endorsement of the thousands of Democrats that I represent and serve in the first district. I’m a life long active Democrat who has fought hard for progressive values. I’m a firm believer that no child should be left behind and that a quality education shouldn’t be a privilege but a right.
“For years I traveled to Albany to make sure our schools get there fair share of funding. This past year I voted for a budget that allowed no cuts to our children’s education. I support smart development, where developers put our residents and communities before there profits. I continue to be a lead advocate to make housing more affordable. I’m a champion for women and minority businesses that play a role in city development. No resident she be afraid to leave there home at anytime which is why I will continue to work with our police to make sure our streets are safe.
“In the past year we have made tremendous progress in making our district a better place to live and work, I will continue to work tirelessly for the people of district 1. I will put people before politics. I want to thank the people of district 1 who elected me last November and I ask for your vote and support in this years election,” said Councilwoman Williams
The decision to endorse Miller came from the Democratic ward leaders in the First Council District and not from the entire Democratic committee. Some democrats explained that the vote against Williams was made as a result of her voting to amend term limits last October.
“The vote against Shanae was because of her vote for term limits, plain and simple,” said one Yonkers Democrat. “But the vote against her is strange, because those same ward leaders who voted against Shanae voted unanimously for Mayor Spano.”
Regardless of why the vote was made for Miller, the vote against Williams was also a vote against Spano’s choice for City Council, pointing to a divide in the democratic party, apparently from progressive democratic leaders and members of Indivisible Yonkers.
In addition to Spano and Miller, the Yonkers Democratic Executive Committee also endorsed the following candidates:
Elena Goldberg Velazquez for Yonkers City Court judge; Dennis Robertson for City Council District 3, Ruth Walter for County Legislator District 15, Christopher Johnson for County Legislator District 16, and José Alvarado for County Legislator District 17. Designees for City Council District 5 and County Legislator District 14 were tabled.
In the Third Council District, Councilman Michael Sabatino will not be running for re-election, and the party’s endorsed candidate, former Councilman Dennis Robertson, is expected to face a primary challenge from a few democrats, none of who have yet made it official.
And in the 17th council legislative race, democratic nominee Jose Alvarado is also expected to face a primary challenge from London Reyes, and perhaps another candidate. County Legislator Virginia Perez is not running for re-election.
If you are a candidate, email us at dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com.
