Esposito Questioned about Gun Store in Yorktown Race: Veterans Outraged at False Claim of American Legion Endorsement
By Dan Murphy
Westchester Rising recently received two letters questioning the candidacy of Sergio Esposito, republican candidate for Yorktown Town Board.
In one letter, a Yorktown Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient, questioned Esposito’s “Fake Endorsement” by the American Legion. A second letter asks voters a simple question: Do We Want Our Elected Officials Selling Guns?
The gun store in question is called American Arms, located on Commerce Street in Yorktown,. The store accepts customers by appointment only.
A recent story on TapIntoYorktown reads that “Esposito, a father of three, serves on the town’s Board of Ethics and owns two small businesses: Comprehensive Computers (a computer repair and IT services company in Mamaroneck) and American Arms (a firearms retailer on Commerce Street in Yorktown). ” Esposito’s campaign litereature makes no mention of the weapons business.
Here are both letters: “Dear Editor: I am SHOCKED AND ANGERED at the misrepresentation by Sergio Esposito in his advertisement implying that the American Legion endorses him! I’m a Veteran and longtime resident of Yorktown. I expect Honor and Truth from candidates for political office. In the October 7th issue of Yorktown News, the American Legion Executive Committee states how they were misled when a photo of AL members and Sergio Esposito which was taken at a non-political event was used deliberately in a political advertisement which implies an endorsement.
This is unethical at a minimum. What is also upsetting is to find out that Mr. Esposito claims to have global management experience when all he runs is a small local computer company, in addition to a weapons and ammunition business on Commerce Street. Lastly, and perhaps the most upsetting is that Mr. Esposito is a member of the Town’s Ethics Board. This is all SHAMELESS AND DISGRACEFUL, not to mention UNETHICAL!” writes Neil Gross.
Another letter we received reads, “Letter to the editor, Do we want our elected officials selling guns? One of the candidates running for town board, Sergio Esposito sells guns and runs a gun business right here in Yorktown. The name of the company is AMERICAN ARMS. This is alarming to me given the amount of school shootings and gun violence across our country.
“Residents want to know how a gun store contributes to our community? Will Mr. Esposito address this question in the upcoming debate?
“Interestingly, Mr. Esposito serves on the Ethics board!? Is this who we want on the Ethics board? Mr. Esposito is also the President of Yorktown Chamber of Commerce. As President, he has allowed Eric DiBartolo to remain a member of the chamber and hold a Chairperson position. Eric DiBartolo was recently charged with larceny, a class D felony. Shouldn’t Mr. Esposito have asked Mr. DiBartolo to step down from his Chairperson position?
“Mr. Esposito also falsely claimed the American Legion endorsed him and we know this is not case as Mr. Gross’s letter to the editor clearly pointed out. Mr. Gross, a purple heart veteran was outraged that Mr. Esposito would falsely claim this endorsement.
“As a Mother concerned about gun violence in our schools, with Sandy Hook being a mere 45 minutes from our town, how could anyone want a gun selling candidate on the Town Board making decisions?
“Will Mr. Esposito apologize to the American Legion for misrepresenting them and putting out a false endorsement? We shall see. Actions speak louder than words,” writes Yorktown resident Trish Sullivan-Rothberg.
Esposito and republican Luciana Haughwout are running on the GOP ticket for two seats on the Town Board. Democrats are running Councilman Vishnu Patel and former Supervisor Lanny Gilbert.
Supervisor Matt Slater is running for re-election unopposed. Democrat Alice Roker is not running for re-election. to the town board. Republicans currently hold a 3-2 majrotiy.
The criminal case against Eric DiBartolo, referenced in the letter above, has been adjnourned again, to October 21.
