Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni, running for re-election in a democratic primary June 22, picked up the endorsmeent from WCLA PAC. “WCLA PAC is proud to endorse Tim Idoni for Westchester County Clerk. Tim is a proven advocate of comprehensive reproductive healthcare and has demonstrated his commitment to access, gender equality and diversity throughout his professional life.
“When serving as Mayor of New Rochelle, Tim made a decision that would impact women’s lives for decades to come. Planned Parenthood had identified the City’s downtown as a key location to open a new clinic. But some religious leaders strongly objected. They threatened Tim, demanding he change the City zoning to keep Planned Parenthood out. Despite formidable opposition and pressure, Tim stood his ground and invited Planned Parenthood into the City’s downtown to provide vital comprehensive health services. His courage – especially in the face of such condemnation – led to a clinic that has proven invaluable to the women of Westchester.
“Tim has successfully woven his values into his career, appointing the first female judge in New Rochelle’s history, and that judge was a woman of color; changing the City Charter from elections at large to a ward system which has led to people of color being elected to the City Council; and appointing the first African American department head in the City’s history.
“Now, under Tim’s leadership, women hold the majority (71.4%) of top management positions in the County Clerk’s office. Tim’s values have helped make him an exceptional County Clerk, one who has saved the taxpayers over $37 million while improving and expanding services and making the office more modern, efficient, accessible and diverse than ever before.
Tim Idoni is the candidate in this race, who through his very actions, has demonstrated a true and unwavering commitment to women’s rights and reproductive freedom. Vote for Tim Idoni in the Westchester County Democratic Primary on Tuesday, June 22nd. (Early Voting is from June 12-20. Thank You, WCLA Board.”
WCLA – Choice Matters’s mission is to ensure that all women, regardless of age, race, class, status, geography or ability to pay, have full, unimpeded access to reproductive health care, and has supported Westchester democratic candidates for decades. Their endorsement of Idoni shows his support from traditional democratic constituencies across the county.
Idoni also called on his challenger, Yonkers Councilmember Shanae Williams, to file her campaign financial report. According to Idoni, Williams has not filed her delinquent January 11, May 17 and June 7 Campaign Finance Disclosure Reports with the New York State Board of Elections.
Mr. Idoni raised the matter at a June 7 candidates forum, hosted online by Indivisible Westchester and more than 20 other grassroots and Democratic organizations. Ms. Williams responded that a report was in the process of being prepared and would be filed “in the next couple of days.” A week has passed, and still no report has been filed. Since announcing her candidacy in December 2020, Ms. Williams’ campaign for Westchester County Clerk has failed to submit any of her three required financial disclosures.
Ms. Williams’ campaign has withheld this information despite having engaged in the very activities that New York State Election Law requires a candidate to document. In addition to making general appeals for donations, her campaign has hosted a minimum of five fundraising events this year, publicized for February 3, March 29, April 15, May 16, and June 10. At the same time, her campaign has generated a steady flow of political advertising including a professional video, mailers, palm cards, yard signs, and more than 100 pieces of branded social media graphics. Ms. Williams is also on the record as having hired top-tier communications firm BerlinRosen.
“Candidates must make public how much money they take in and from whom, and how and where they spend that money, to be in compliance with our election laws. The voters deserve nothing less from us,” said Mr. Idoni. “If Ms. Williams truly believes in transparency—as espoused in her campaign materials—she will file her past-due reports immediately, as early voting is already underway.”
Mr. Idoni added, “Timely filing is not only important to running a political campaign. It is absolutely essential to carrying out the job of County Clerk, where people rely on us to promptly and responsibly process everything from their land deeds and passport applications, to divorce papers and military discharge records. If Ms. Williams cannot or will not file her own financial disclosures, how can the people of Westchester County trust that she will reliably handle the more than 140,000 filings that come through the Clerk’s office each year?”
Seeking re-election as Westchester County Clerk, Mr. Idoni is running on a record of saving Westchester County government more than $37 million while increasing services, outreach, and inclusion. New York State’s Primary Election will be held on June 22, with early voting running from June 12-20.
