In Our Opinion...

Little more than a week ago voters in Westchester, and all over New York State, registered Democrats, and Republicans, went to the polls to select candidates for those offices, for which the nomination of either of those parties, was being contested by two or more individuals.

Two of the more prominent positions, Governor, and United States Senator, although the object of primary contests, were in fact, forgone conclusions. Hillary Clinton, as expected receiving some 83% for United States Senate nod, and Eliot Spitzer 82% for Governor.

Still, on the Democratic side, the more contentious race for state-wide of-fice was the contest for the Attorney General nomination. Although there were three candidates, only two were considered probable, Mark Green, and Andrew Cuomo. And, while Cuomo’s victory by more than twenty percentage points came as no surprise, many had expected a closer finish.

Given the bitterness, and some of the accusations that had come from the Green Camp in the closing weeks of the campaign, we were pleased to see Mr. Green accept the good advice of Charlie King, immediately closing ranks behind Cuomo, declaring, “Andrew Cuomo will make a far better Attorney General than Jeanine
Pirro.” Some had feared that Green might have sought an independent endorsement and nomination becoming a spoiler. We say, “More power to you Mr. Green for doing the right thing.”

On the Republican side of the isle, John Spencer’s victory over K.T. McFarland was not unexpected. Most observers acknowledge that Spencer is on an intentional “suicide mission,” in part serving as a $500,000 cash cow for the Spencer Clan, but, more importantly, keeping his political torch glowing for a heavily anticipated re-run for Mayor of Yonkers next year. In any case, no surprises in that outcome.

However, we believe that the outcome in a less publicized Republican contest, between six-term incumbent Assemblyman Willis Stephens, Jr., of Southeast, and Greg Ball, 28, of Patterson, a newcomer to the political arena, may hold some significant clues for the upcoming general election. Greg Ball, didn’t simply defeat Stephens, a very popular grandson of the late, great, Mallory Stephens, and son of the former ten-term Assemblyman Willis Stephens.

He clobbered him, taking 71% of the Republican faithful with him, in a traditionally Republican 99th Assembly District.

We believe Ball’s overwhelming victory was a very poignant statement by a particularly significant, and representative segment of New York State’s electorate.

Those who sent Stephens packing, Republican faithful all, come from North Salem, Somers, and Yorktown, in Westchester, Southeast, Carmel, and Patterson, in Putnam, and Pawling in Dutchess County, a really representative cross-section of New York Republicans, indeed.

Simply stated, Republican incumbents facing re-election in New York State, at every level, will be D.O.A. November 7th, at 9:00PM.

George Pataki’s rape and destruction of the state’s human and financial resources, aided, and abetted by the Republican controlled State Senate, coupled with the failed policies of the Bush Administration, have together created a poverty of spirit, as well as pocket, across our once great Empire State, that now cries out for the ballot box remedy.