Election Day in Yonkers, Nov. 2 2021, will feature races for City Council President, City Council, County Legislator, and NYS Supreme Court Judge.
The Yonkers election contest that many in Westchester will be watching is the race for County Legislator in the 15th District, which includes East Yonkers and Bronxville. Democratic Legislator Ruth Walter is running against republican James Nolan. This race is identified by both parties as the most competitive in 2021. Walter narrowly defeated republican legislator Gordon Burrows in 2019, after narrowly losing to Burrows in 2017.
Walter, a small businesswoman from Bronxville, has worked over the past 2 years to reach her constituents in the East Yonkers portion of the district. But with COVID keeping most of us at home since the spring of 2020, Walter continues to get out her message of what she has done for the residents and voters in all the district.
James Nolan is from Yonkers and making his first run for office. His call to public service, has originated from his activism following the death of his brother, Oakland A’s baseball star Michael Nolan, who was shot and killed in Yonkers in 2015.
James Nolan has worked on issues related to gun violence and drag racing through the Michael Nolan foundation. He has also volunteered in many community outreach programs in Yonkers during the pandemic. And most of all, he is actively campaigning in Yonkers.
Walter is ready for the challenge and is proud to run on her record. “I have a record of accomplishment that I’m proud to run on and look forward to sharing with the voters. Yonkers, and all of my district has been well served for the past 18 months,” said Walter.
The race for City Council in the 6th District is another hot contest in Yonkers this fall. republcian Councilman Anthony Merante is facing a serious challenge from democrat Tim Hodges. Both are actively campaigning, as Merante tries to hold onto his seat. Expect a knock on your door from one or both if you live in the district.
The race for City Council President has democrat Lakisha Collins-Bellamy running against republican Ron Matten. Collins-Bellamy defeated the incumbent Council President Mike Khader, who is serving until the end of the year, in the democratic primary in June. That victory has pushed Collins-Bellmany into the spotlight of many Yonkers voters.
Matten is running an active campaign and on behalf of the Yonkers GOP, is running citywide. Four years ago, republican councilman Liam McLaughlin lost to Khader by 10 points. Matten faces an uphill battle to win this race, but we applaud his entry.
Another issue that Matten and Nolan face is that Demcorat County Executive George Latimer is running on the top of the ticket. Many believe that Latimer, who has effectively brought Westchester through the pandemic, kept county property tax increases at 0 and supported progressive initiatives, will help his fellow democratic candidates on the ballot Nov. 2. Republican Christine Sculti is Latimer’s challenger and is actively campaigning.
Yonkers residents will also attempt to make history in electing the first Latino Judge to the New York State Supreme Court in the 9th Judicial District, with Yonkers City Court Judge Tom Quinones the canddiate.
The unknown in the BOL races and the election of 2021 is turnout. With Yonkers residents having issues like COVID, back to school and flooding on their minds, and with no race for Mayor, Governor or President to increase turnout, nobody knows what the vote totals will look like.
Much more on the Yonkers elections in the weeks to come. Email your letters to dmurphy@risingmediagroup.com
