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CityREVIEW NewRochelle June 16 & 23, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 18 | www.cityreviewnr.com
Marcotte secures Independence line By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Jonny Parks, a singer-songwriter from White Plains, released “The Portia LP,” a rhythm and blues and soul-inspired album on May 20. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Jonnyparks.com
Rosenblum snags Independence line in county race By JAMES PERO Staff Writer With the formal backing of the Independence Party, village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum received his first major boon toward defeating incumbent county Legislator Catherine Parker in an upcoming race for the Westchester’s District 7.
“It’s very satisfying to get an endorsement by any group,” said Rosenblum, a Republican. “My entire experience [as] an elected official has always been guided by public service versus politics.” This will mark the fourth time that Rosenblum, a four-term mayor, secured the Independence Party’s endorsement in his political career, and a reversal from a previous
county race that saw the party endorse Parker, a Rye Democrat, over her Republican challenger Susan Watson, of Rye. No Republican candidate in any of the county’s legislative districts received an Independence Party endorsement in 2015. Westchester’s Independence ROSENBLUM continued on page 11
Westchester County Legislator Sheila Marcotte has secured the Independence line in her re-election efforts this year. Marcotte, a Republican who represents District 10, who is running for her fourth term as county legislator against Democrat Damon Maher, of New Rochelle, has also secured the Conservative line for the November election. According to Marcotte, the last time she received an endorsement from the Independence Party was way back when she ran in a special election to fill the District 10 legislative seat in 2010, which she won. “The Independence Party has a history of endorsing candidates from different [parties],” said Marcotte, 51. “In my opinion, they don’t hold allegiance to one side or another.” The Independence Party has often been viewed as indicator of electoral success on the county level. For her last two re-election campaigns, however, Marcotte had to primary for the right to carry the Independence line in the general election. “They overwhelmingly endorsed me,” she told the Review about the registered voters of the party. “I literally crushed my opponents.” In 2013 and 2015, Marcotte won the Independence primary as a write-in candidate, which served as a precursor to defeating her opponents, Mary Jo Jacobs and Haina Just-Michael, respectively.
This year, Marcotte told the Review that she went before the Independence Party committee to ask for the line. “They know I’m a hard worker,” she said. “We are in agreement on almost every issue we touched on during the interview process,” from the county budget to Playland. There are 1,315 registered Independence Party voters in District 10, according to recent numbers provided by the county Board of Elections. Looking ahead to November, Marcotte said that she feels confident about winning re-election. “I know that my message has remained unchanged since the first time I ran,” she said, saying that she will advocate for taxpayers and their families. Her platform includes having a smaller government, and making sure that there is no increase to the tax levy, which has been the case for the seven years that she has been in county office under Republican County Executive Rob Astorino. “It is a commitment that I have kept my word on,” she added. Marcotte previously served on MARCOTTE continued on page 8