By Dan Murphy
The takeaway from Election 2019 in Westchester is a mixed message, with democrats and republicans claiming victory in different parts of the county. In three Westchester towns (Eastchester, Harrison and Yorktown) republicans won, while democratic mayors in New Rochelle, Mt. Vernon and Yonkers won.
On the County Board of Legislators, democrats won another two seats Nov. 5, with republican Legislator Gordon Burrows losing to democrat Ruth Walter in the 15th district (Bronxville and parts of Yonkers), and in an open seat with the retirement of republican Legislator John Testa, democrat Colin Smith defeated republican Frank Catalina in the first district (Peekskill and Cortlandt).
In one other County Board race of note, Democrat Legislator Damon Maher easily won his re-election, defeating republican Chris Garitee 57-43 in the 10th District (parts of New Rochelle and Eastchester). This race, where republicans had hoped to take back a seat but lost by 14 points is a sign that in many parts of Westchester, republicans can no longer compete – and contest – elections.
Democrats now hold a 15-2 majority on the County Board, with Conservative Legislator Margaret Cunzio and republican Legislator David Tubiolo the last two remaining non-democrats on the board. Both Cunzio in North Castle and Tubiolo in Yonkers ran without opposition.
Republicans did score victories in three Westchester towns. In Eastchester, Supervisor Tony Colavita won re-election with a 56 to 44 vote total over democrat Michael Denning, who did not run an active campaign. In Harrison, Supervisor Ron Belmont defeated democrat Frank Gordon 54 to 46 percent. Harrison Democrats ran a well-financed, competitive race against Belmont and the Harrison republicans, with democrat Lauren Leader winning one of two seats on the Harrison council, and republican Fred Sciliano winning the other seat.
In Eastchester, democrats did not run candidates for Town Board, with republicans Glen Bellitto and Joe Dooley winning without opposition.
What turned out to be the most competitive race was in the Town of Yorktown, with democratic incumbent Supervisor Lanny Gilbert losing to republican Matt Slater by a 53 to 47 percent margin. Slater, who campaigned hard and had a large group of active volunteers and supporters, was able to retake Yorktown Town Hall for the GOP. Gilbert had defeated republican Michael Grace two years ago during the “blue wave” of democratic, progressive support. Slater’s victory will also give encouragement to supporters of President Donald Trump, and to those republicans who wish to run for office again in northern Westchester.
In Westchester’s three cities there were no surprises, with incumbent Democratic Mayors Mike Spano of Yonkers and Noam Bramson of New Rochelle easily winning re-election. Spano defeated republican Mario De Giorgio by a whopping 75 to 25 percent margin, an ultra-supermajority that points to the fact that republicans have lost Westchester’s largest city.
On election night, Spano commented how Yonkers “is an example for the county, state and nation about how to work together and serve all the people.” Joined by his wife, CBS NY News host Mary Calvi, Spano’s broad themes and concepts point to him seeking higher office.
In New Rochelle, Bramson won re-election by a 63 to 37 percent margin over republican Brendan Conroy. Bramson’s decisive victory, and the victory of Martha Lopez to the City Council over republican Louis Trangucci by a 67 to 33 percent margin, and County Legislator Damon Maher’s big re-election, points to New Rochelle becoming a democratic lock for every election.
In the City of Mt. Vernon, democrat Shawyn Patterson-Howard was elected with 81 percent of the vote. Interim Mayor Andre Wallace, running on the republican line, got 17 percent and conservative Rosemarie Jarosz earned 2 percent.
In the City of Peekskill, democratic Mayor Andre Rainey defeated republican Vincent Vesce 59 to 41 percent. In Greenburgh, democratic Supervisor Paul Feiner easily won re-election, defeating independent Lucas Cioffi 68 to 32 percent.
Democrats also swept the judicial races in Westchester, with Robert Prisco and Melissa Loehr headed to the County Court, and four democrats – Nancy Quinn Koba, Steven Milligram, Lewis Lubell, and Gina Capone – winning Westchester County in their bids to serve on the New York State Supreme Court from the Ninth Judicial District.
Turnout for Election 2019 in Westchester was higher than usual for an off-year election, with no race for county executive, governor or president on top of the ballot. Early voting was also a success in Westchester, with more than 50,000 voters taking advantage of the new initiative.
