By Dan Murphy
One of the leaders in the Yonkers Demoratic Party called this years Democratic Primary in Yonkers, “one of the strangest I have seen in 35 years” The race forYonkers City Council President tops of list as the most important, citywide election on June 22, But this race for Council President has many Yonkers democrats scratching their heads and waiting, with about 25% of democrats in Yonkers undecided between the incumbent, Council President Mike Khader, and challenger Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, who is also a Yonkers Board of Education Trustee.
Normally, an incumbent Council President running for re-election would not see a serious challenge from within their own party. Three months ago, Khader received the endorsement from the Yonkers Democratic Party, receiving 86% of the vote of the democratic district leaders.
But Collins-Bellamy kept campaigning, and, two issues materialized about Khader’s leadership as Council President. After those stories broke, Khader’s numbers slipped and Bellamy’s campaign took off.
Now, after a few mailings from both campaigns and texts to Yonkers democrats, Collins picked up the endorsement from two Yonkers elected Democrats, Council Majority Leader Corazon Pineda-Isaac and County Legislator Christopher Johnson.
“As Majority Leader of the Yonkers City Council, it’s critical that the Office of the Council President has strong leadership promoting the quality of life for all Yonkers residents,” said Majority Leader Pineda-Isaac. “To effect real change, it takes a total team effort, and I fully support Lakisha Collins-Bellamy for City Council President to continue to lead Yonkers into its best days.”
County Legislator Johnson added, “The City Council President’s Office deserves someone who loves Yonkers, has integrity, and has already committed themselves to making Yonkers better. Lakisha meets all of those qualifictions, and that’s why I am supporting her.”.
Later this week, City Councilwoman Shanae Williams also endorsed Collins-Bellamny. The other two democratic councilmembers, Tasha Diaz and John Rubbo, have yet to endorse either Khader, Collins-Bellamy, or the third candidate in the race, Peter Spano.
Both Khader and Collins-Bellamy have picked up other endorsements. Khader got the endorsement from Teamster Local 456 and from the Yonkers Federation of Teachers.
Collins-Bellamy got the endorsement from Yonkers Firefighter Local 628, and from the Working Families Party, whose line she will be running on in November.
Several Yonkers democrats we have spoken to are still undecided, and waiting to see which way they go. Which brings us back to the reason why we are 11 days from the democratic primary for council president and we can’t predict the outcome.
One reason for this is that Collins-Bellamy is a good candidate! “Let’s give Lakisha credit,” said one Yonkers democrat. “Her campaign is active, both in the community with voters and with mailings, endorsements, social media. It is a professional campaign that peaked at the right moment.”
Collins-Bellamy also has something to say on the campaign trail and in her recent debates. If elected, she would be the first, African-American woman elected to citywide office in Yonkers. She also works as an attorney for the Yonkers Municipal Housing Authority and as a member of the Yonkers Police Reform Committee. She is a lifelong resident of Yonkers and is highly qualified to serve the people of Yonkers in any position she chooses to run for, including Council President.
The endorsement for Collins-Bellamy from Majority Leader Pineda Isaac is significant because she works with Council President Khader on a frequent basis, and is supporting his opponent, Collins-Bellamy.
Khader could use an endorsement from one of two remaining council democrats. Don’t expect an endorsement from Councilman John Rubbo, who disagrees with Khader on many topics and their styles of governance don’t coincide. Councilwoman Tasha Diaz is the other democratic member.
Both sides feel good about how the primary is shaping up. “We’ve got him on the ropes,” said one Collins-Bellamy supporter. “If 1 in 4 democrats are still undecided, those undecided voters usually go to the challenger–Lakisha?
Khader has kept his campaign positive, and his mailings tout his political independene. But some Yonkers democrats don’t understand what Independent-Progressive means. “Mike Khader was elected four years ago on the message of change and something new. Four years later, many Yonkers democrats see though it, what does a progressive -independent mean when you haven’t delivered?”
Finally, one democrat asked, “Where did all of this nonsense come from? I still think Mike Khader will win the democratic primary on June 22. He still has my vote.”
Still others don’t like the tactics in this race, or either canddiate. “We need more substance and less of these political atatcks-and garbage -the political bar in Yonkers is too low,” said another Yonkers Dem.
