Republican Convention Held in Hastings

This past Tuesday was the Republican Party's first Convention of this election season. The Democrats have already had theirs.

The ballroom upstairs is the same used for the Republican’s Annual Lincoln Breakfast. At the Lincoln Breakfast the room was packed with standing room only. Tonight's meeting was for District Leaders and/or  nominees. The room had many unfilled seats. The Lincoln Breakfast gave a sense of change that the Republicans were on the cusp of an explosive rebirth. Even my spouse admitted this evening that he's not so sure they'll be doing much of anything different. It was the same old names, literally and figuratively, the same old ideas, the same old rants and the increasingly distasteful partisan politics that is becoming more and more prevalent in Westchester. The Democrats are just as guilty of this. It appears everyone is hoping to maintain what little power they have left.

The host for the evening was Douglas Colety, offering a lackluster performance. Once the event began, it was turned over to the Secretary, Kevin Eccleston, who proceeded to take attendance, and then move on to the rest of the order of business, focusing on nominations of candidates. The majority of the nominations were for the County Legislative Districts. Hardly an inspirational evening as the same old players were dragged out of cold storage. Some newbie candidates, not yet beaten down by the Astorino/Colety apparatus, accepted their nominations with the expected platitudes. But here again, no new ideas, no new blood, just a big group of “same old, same old”, as politics for Republicans in Westchester fades. But we pray something changes, and fast!

The entire evening seemed to focus on several core themes: breaking the super-majority in the County Legislature; County Legislator Ken Jenkins is entertaining with the most ridiculous things he says and does; redistricting was done without Republican input (and now Jenkins actually lives in the district he represents); we're still the highest taxed County in the USA; and the like. After nominating James Maisano, for County Legislator again, he spoke, as did all the candidates. Maisano is a 17-year County Legislator who ran unsuccessfully for the NY Supreme Court in the last election. He's a nice guy and has served well. Although, ABG wonders isn't 17 years enough? Term limits are becoming more and more a necessity.

ABG has been disappointed with the Republicans in general and Greenburgh's Republicans in particular for quite some time. This Convention left the County Legislative's 8th District, among others, unchallenged. This allows a marginal Democratic legislator, Alfreda Williams, an unchallenged win in an uncontested race. It also means that while democrats maintain a super majority vote, Greenburgh will suffer with sub-par representation. We're not sure why Nicholas DeCicco, who challenged Democrat Mary Jane Shimsky in the special election for Thomas Abinanti's seat, didn't try again in this regular election? We're also not sure what district he's in now that the County Legislature did the redistricting?

Specific to Greenburgh, at the recent Greenburgh Town Chair election, we understand that Timothy Hays was elected as the Greenburgh Republican chairman. How did they pick him? We remember an article he contributed to in Westchester magazine supporting Paul Feiner and are told he is still a fan of Feiner. A Republican can certainly support a democrat, but there's a very fine line here. Regardless, we expect to see some passion, new ideas and fresh candidates - but we're not holding our breath.

We're also waiting to hear if Thomas Bock will announce his candidacy for Greenburgh Town Supervisor as well as Nicholas DeCicco, for County Legislative District 8. Bock was at the Republican event and DeCicco was not. Are there no other people in Greenburgh's Republican camp willing to run for office? We think if the moderate and conservative Democrats go to the polls with an open mind, at least these two candidates will have a chance - as will the people of the Town of Greenburgh. The Democrats are not endorsing their three sitting Democratic judges. Apparently,  they're not happy with the direction Greenburgh is heading, either.

ABG believes Greenburgh needs some radical redevelopment. Not just because there are so many Democrats, but because there is no challenge, no check and balance, no variety anymore. Unfortunately, we're not getting the best of anything. It's time for a change in Greenburgh.