Tuckahoe Village Justice David Fuller
Croton Village Justice Sam Watkins
By Dan Murphy
Most of us who have called Westchester home for many years know of a local Town or Village Justice who has served our communities for decades. Those justices have served in a nonpartisan manner and earned the respect of the communities they serve.
Now, the hyper-partisan nature of our politics has forced its way into our elections of Town-Village Justices, and two of Westchester’s long-serving judges are in jeopardy of losing their seats.
They are Tuckahoe Village Justice David Fuller and Croton-on-Hudson Village Justice Sam Watkins.
Tuckahoe Justice Fuller has served his community with honor for 50 years. In a letter to the community, Fuller writes, “For many years, I have had the privilege of serving as Tuckahoe Village Justice. During that time, I have gained decades of experience on the bench while watching our Village and our court system grow and change. With Election Day approaching, I wanted to reach out personally to encourage you to vote and to share why I am seeking another term.
“There have been many changes in Tuckahoe and in our Village Court over the years. Court calendars have grown longer, laws have changed—particularly those involving bail—and new filing and security measures have been put in place.
“Through all of these changes, we have maintained a dedicated court staff and, importantly, we have no backlog. When you come before the Tuckahoe Village Court, your matter can be considered promptly. If you want or need a trial, you can have one without unnecessary delay.
“If you speak with anyone who has appeared before me, I am confident that person will tell you that he or she was treated fairly and promptly by a judge who knew the law. I have always believed that everyone who enters our courtroom deserves to be treated with fairness and respect, and in accordance with the law.
I would like that to continue. It has been a privilege to serve as your Village Justice. I enjoy serving our Village and earnestly ask for your support and your vote so that I may continue that service for another term. Sincerely, David O. Fuller Tuckahoe Village Justice”
Fuller is being challenged on Nov. 3 by Aisha Scholes.
In Croton, Village Justice Sam Watkins is facing a similar dilemma. The Croton Chronicle has written extensively on the upcoming election for Justice.
Watkins has served Croton first as a Village Trustee for 8 years and then as a Village Justice for 20 years.
A letter from Joel Gingold reads, “Sam Watkins has served as our Village Justice for two decades. Over that period, he has developed an effective, efficient, and nonpartisan court for our village, and—as opposed to his inexperienced opponent—he has exactly the temperament we want and need in our judiciary. Sam has truly earned another term in office. “
Watkins was denied the democratic party line to run for reelection and the Croton democrats decided to endorse Ali Jaffery. Watkins is running on a third-party line called The Voice of Croton.
Croton Chronicle Editor Michael Balter writes, “The circumstances under which Jaffery became the judicial nominee are particularly problematic. As we reported earlier, Judge Sam Watkins was initially the unanimous choice of a three-person nominating committee specially appointed by officers of the Croton Democratic Committee to evaluate the two men. Jaffery only became the favored candidate after a machination by the Committee’s chair and vice-chair that overturned a narrow vote by district leaders in favor of Watkins.
“It is disheartening to see our local Democratic leaders engaging in political stunts that, if Trump or the Republicans tried to pull them off, the Dems would be screaming bloody murder about. Among Democrats in our state Senate district, Pete Harckham is generally well-liked and considered a straightforward and honest politician, at least relatively speaking. It would be disappointing indeed if he played politics with the important question of who should be the court judge in a village in his district and with which he has close ties.
“On the other hand, we think that readers are familiar enough with the network of connections between the (now former) vice-chair of Croton Democrats, her husband the mayor of Croton, and the mayor’s boss, the very same Senator Pete Harckham. So if there are politics to be played, Harckham would be close at hand.
“It is also no secret that Sam Watkins, twice now in four years, has led campaigns that put the kibosh on Mayor Pugh’s strong desire to disband the Croton Village Court and move its operations to Cortlandt. While Jaffery later came out publicly against moving the court, during a lively public session of the Board of Trustees last March, he had initially told fellow Democrats privately that he was in favor of moving it, according to several sources. Was that part of his appeal?
“Some Democratic Party activists in Croton and Cortlandt are now reportedly telling everyone who will listen that Sam Watkins is “too old” to continue as Village Justice, an assertion that has been a subtext of this year’s election campaign from the very beginning. Perhaps those who consider Watkins’ age to be a major factor should come out and say that openly between now and November 3.
“In the meantime, we are left with the same old subterranean gossiping, backbiting, and political machinations that have come to characterize so much of Croton politics in recent years. It’s no wonder that many citizens have become cynical and disillusioned.
“We don’t think this is acceptable. It is unethical and unprincipled, and when a critically important position such as Village Justice is at stake, it is reprehensible to play politics with people’s lives in this way. Those who come before our Village Justice Court have the right to know that the judge they face was honestly chosen.
“Our job at the Chronicle is not to endorse candidates—we have not, and do not, endorse either Sam Watkins or Ali Jaffery—but to provide accurate and honest information that voters need to make informed choices. We will continue to do so.”
Writes Balter, link –https://thecrotonchronicle.substack.com/p/commentary-why-did-senator-pete-harckham. Republished with permission.
While Balter will not endorse a candidate, we write to endorse both Judge Fuller in Tuckahoe and Judge Watkins. Experience matters, and both have proven to be unchallenged in their pursuit of justice while on the bench.
Both are wise, with years of experience, and not old enough to serve. Let them continue.
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