Harrison REVIEW THE
November 17, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 46 | www.harrisonreview.com
In Westchester, ‘Trump-Effect’ nets huge Dem turnout By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Tasting for a
Cerebral Palsy of Westchester hosted its 12th annual A Taste of Westchester, giving attendees a chance to try more than 30 of the county’s finest dining establishments, while raising money to fund a park for children with and without disabilities. For story, see page 6. Photo/Sibylla Chipaziwa
cause
County seeks Westchester for fathering conference The fourth Annual New York Fathering Conference is now accepting workshop proposals for its summit at the Westchester County Center in White Plains on April 3, 2018, County Executive Rob Astorino announced. The theme is “Learn Everywhere Every Day.” “It is firmly my belief that stronger communities begin with stronger families,” Astorino said. “The New York Fathering Conference continues to be one of the most popular and important summits of the year, bringing together more than 400 fathers, young men and service providers to focus on improving outcomes for families.”
To submit a workshop proposal, please visit Westchestergov. com/dadbethere and email the completed form to Jkenner@ westchestergov.com by Nov. 22. The program committee for the New York Fathering Conference will select professionals who work directly with fathers, who write about fathers, or who influence policies. Workshop proposals this year should focus on areas related to education, literacy and other related community initiatives that are available to families. Examples of potential workshops could include, but are not limited to: • Engaging dads in child
development • Fostering dads’ participation with schools • Developing strategies for dads and kids to learn together • Creating reading programs that work • Participating in everyday activities that promote literacy • Teaching dads and kids to read • Promoting literacy at work and moving beyond the GED. Each workshop will be approximately 90 minutes and should give service providers and/or dads information, interaction and tools that they can bring back their practices and communities.
For more information, please contact Joseph D. Kenner, deputy commissioner of the department of social services, at Jkenner@ westchestergov.com. The New York Fathering Conference is part of Astorino’s ongoing #DadBeThere fatherhood initiative, which targets the full spectrum of fathers, from those who are present in the home to those who are not. Programs range from career counseling and job placement assistance to simply creating more opportunities for dads and families to spend time together. Learn more at Westchestergov.com/dadbethere. (Submitted)
Anti-Trump sentiments fueling voter angst rose from merely prognostications to a blue wave of Democratic voters this year helping push the party to victory in Westchester County as well as key states across the country. On top of state Sen. George Latimer’s sound defeat of Republican County Executive Rob Astorino, Democrats saw major gains in the county’s Legislature, where successful challenges helped increase a partisan advantage from nine seats to 12, securing a super majority and mirroring party success throughout city, town and village elections. According to Doug Forand, a senior partner at political consulting firm Red Horse Strategies in Brooklyn, New York, Democratic wins this election cycle—a non-presidential, offyear election usually characterized by tepid voter turnout— weren’t just a result of success on the campaign trail, but a product of strategic opposition to President Donald Trump. The outcome has been termed the “Trump-Effect.” “[Trump opposition] was a very significant element of this election season,” Forand said. “We weren’t surprised. We’ve done a couple special elections and we started to see this wave materializing.” According to Forand, whose firm worked on the Latimer campaign as well as campaigns of other Democrats in the county, like most strategists and Democratic candidates moving to capitalize on simmering resentment toward the Trump administration, he was unsure of
what the magnitude of Trump opposition would be, but with passing time and the crystallization of solid voting data, its efficacy has been borne out, and indicates a full-blown political phenomenon. Forand said that Red Horse has already begun to analyze the results of previous Westchester County executive races, and according to the firm’s calculations, voter turnout in this election has outpaced the last four executive races, with the closest turnout coming in 2005 when nearly 9,000 less voters re-elected Democrat Andy Spano over then-challenger Astorino. But compared to 2013—the last county executive race which pitted Astorino against New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson— county Board of Elections data shows there was a 46 percent increase in Democratic voters this year, while Republican votership remained almost completely static. According to Jake Dilemani, the senior vice president for Mercury Public Affairs, a multinational political consulting group, even Latimer’s worst re-election performance for his New York state Senate seat would have been enough to beat Astorino this year. Astorino was first elected in 2009 and had dealt rather easily with two previous Democratic challengers. “President Trump’s low approval ratings and the general disgust among the electorate… certainly contributed to the Democratic enthusiasm experienced across the country, and right here in Westchester,” Dilemani said. “[Latimer’s] immense talent for retail politicking and an TRUMP continued on page 9
Follow us on Twitter @harrisonreview Like us on facebook.com/harrisonreview