N.Y. Senate fight bolsters Westchester, Putnam races
The statewide fight for control of New York's Senate is spurring competitive races in Westchester and Putnam counties for seats in the upper house this year.
With Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, not seeking re-election in the 40th District in northern Westchester and Putnam, two Republicans are fighting for the seat. Yorktown Councilman Terrence Murphy and former Assemblyman Bob Castelli likely will face each other in a primary Sept. 9. Justin Wagner, who lost to Ball in 2012, is the Democratic candidate.
Sen. Jeff Klein is being challenged by former Assemblyman and New York City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell in the 34th District in Mount Vernon and Pelham. Koppell is taking on Klein, the leader of the Independent Democratic Caucus, because of what Koppell's campaign manager said was the damage caused by the IDC's coalition with Senate Republicans.
Sen. David Carlucci, who represents District 38 in Rockland and Ossining, also was threatened with a primary because of his IDC membership. But only Republican Donna Held filed petitions to run against him.
Candidates for state and local offices filed petitions last week, and the boards of election have released preliminary lists of candidates. The lists could change if petitions come in by mail or candidates are knocked off the ballot after challenges.
In the 37th Senate District, which stretches from Bedford to Yonkers and takes in the Sound shore, Jean Maisano filed petitions to challenge Sen. George Latimer, D-Rye. But she has declined the nomination and will be replaced on the ballot by Friday, said Doug Colety, Republican county committee chairman. Two candidates are interested in the seat, he said.
Colety said the Republican committee will focus this year on backing its statewide candidates including Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the GOP candidate for governor, and helping the party take control of the Senate.
"We can't engage in every race," Colety said. "We want to really focus on those larger races."
The Republicans also put up a candidate, Robert Lopez Foti of Yonkers, against Democratic Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins in the 35th District in Yonkers, White Plains, Greenburgh, Scarsdale and reaching over to New Rochelle. Stewart-Cousins is the Democratic conference leader who was frozen out of the leadership because of the IDC's deal with the Republican Senate conference.
A Democratic primary is shaping up in the 90th Assembly District in Yonkers, where Michael Sweeney is challenging Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer. Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson faces a Democratic primary against Crystal Collins in the 36th District in Mount Vernon and the Bronx.
In Putnam, Republican County Executive MaryEllen Odell is being challenged by Democratic County Legislator Samuel Oliverio Jr. First Deputy County Clerk Michael Bartolotti is running for county clerk to replace Dennis Sant, who is retiring. But Democrat Lithgow Osborne of Garrison also wants the job. Two Republican primaries are shaping up for Putnam County legislative seats, in District 3 and District 8.
Several open Town Board seats are forcing elections to fill unexpired terms in Bedford, Mamaroneck, North Castle, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Yorktown, Rye, White Plains and Croton-on-Hudson. Several villages also have their regular trustee elections. In Ossining, Mayor William Hanauer faces a Democratic primary challenge from village Trustee Victoria Gearity. Gearity was endorsed over Hanauer by the Ossining Town Democratic Committee.
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