Harrison REVIEW THE
September 15, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 37 | www.harrisonreview.com
Giordano scores sizable win in GOP primary By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
Healthier living At Harrison Strength & Fitness’ first fitness expo, health enthusiasts like AJ Fusco, a chef and Harrison firefighter, show you can make better choices to live a healthier lifestyle. For story, see page 11. Photo courtesy Jessica Lizzio Fusco
After his candidacy sat in limbo for much of the primary campaign season, Michael Giordano has still earned a spot in the running for Harrison’s receiver of taxes position, successfully winning the Republican Party primary on Sept. 12. According to the Westchester County Board of Elections, BOE, Giordano captured 388 out of 581 total votes, defeating his opponent Rosa Mastrogiacomo-Luongo, who had been endorsed by the Harrison Republican Committee, for the opportunity to run in the general election in November. Giordano, who currently works in the Harrison tax receiver’s office, will move on to face off against Independence Party candidate Helen Pesce and Maria Mioli Pennella, a registered Republican running on the Democratic line. Giordano’s victory comes after considerable uncertainty about the legitimacy of his candidacy for the position, which pays an capacity since winning a special annual salary of $101,050; the receiver of taxes is elected to a fourelection in 2007. Jenkins told the Review that year term. In August, in state Supreme even despite the loss, he will continue to be involved in his Court, Giordano unsuccessfully community through activism and challenged a BOE determination is ready to throw his full support that resulted in him being removed from the primary ballot. behind Latimer. “I’m disappointed with the He was initially removed after results, but at the end of the day more than half of the objections I’ll do whatever things I can do to filed against him with the BOE make sure that [Latimer wins] in were upheld—the objections contended that Giordano is not November,” he said. In an effort to secure Jenkins’ a resident of the town/village of legislative seat, Democrat Chris- Harrison, he received petition sigtopher Johnson, a Yonkers City natures from residents that are not councilman, emerged in a narrow registered in the Republican Party primary victory against Symra and other signatures improperly Brandon, the chairwoman of the listed the municipality where he Yonkers Democratic Committee. was seeking office. However, after appealing to The county executive is elected to serve a four-year term with the 2nd Department of the New York Supreme Court Appellate a $160,760 annual salary. Division earlier this month, the CONTACT: james@hometwn.com court ruled in Giordano’s favor,
Sen. Latimer easily outpaces Jenkins in CE primary By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Westchester County’s marquis political race of the year has finally solidified its opponents after state Sen. George Latimer convincingly defeated county Legislator Ken Jenkins in a Democratic primary. According to preliminary county Board of Elections tallies, Latimer won the Sept. 12 county executive primary quite comfortably, reeling in 63 percent of the vote to Jenkins’ 37 percent. As of press time, the race logged a little more than 37,000 votes cast in total, while there are about 290,000 active Democratic voters countywide. For Latimer, of Rye, the win will act as another notch in his political belt—having won 18 consecutive elections to date—
but will signify only a small step comparatively speaking to what he is gearing up for in his toughest challenge to date this fall. In the coming months, Latimer will look to unseat incumbent County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, who has held the county’s highest elected office since 2010. “This will be the toughest,” Latimer admitted. “Every race, once you reach it, it will be the toughest…. But each one makes you stronger for the next race.” Astorino has already won re-election once, defeating New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, a Democrat, in 2013. In addition, Astorino has also overcome a sizeable voter registration disadvantage in the county where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than a 2-to-1 margin. Latimer will also likely be
outspent by Astorino, who has approximately $3.2 million in campaign finances, according to filings with the state Board of Elections, as of press time. Meanwhile, Latimer has raised $354,000, according to recent filings. Despite the decisive edge in funding, Latimer has a history of beating opponents who outspend him, including a record-setting race, at the time, against Bob Cohen, a Republican candidate for state senator, in which more than $4.5 million was spent, primarily by Cohen. For Jenkins, of Yonkers, his political career may be over. By choosing to run for county executive, Jenkins relinquished an opportunity to run for re-election to his legislative seat representing the county’s 16th District; Jenkins has served in that
allowing him to appear on the ballot in the primary. “At this point, we will abide by the rule of the people, said Joe Angilletta, Mastrogiacomo-Luongo’s campaign manager and uncle. “We were looking for a different outcome, but that’s what happens when people choose and that’s democracy.” Giordano’s candidacy was first called into question in July after the Review discovered that he owns a home in the village of Brewster in Putnam County in addition to his residence at 14 Woodside Ave. in West Harrison. On tax forms, he has indicated that his primary residence is his Blossom Lane property in Brewster. Under that address, Giordano collects a School Tax Relief Exemption, known as the STAR exemption, which he’s received since 2001. According to the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance, multiple-property owners in the state must collect a STAR exemption only on the property they consider their primary residence, defined as the location where they spend the majority of their time. With Giordano’s victory, the spotlight will now shift to the general election where the mayor, town clerk and two members of the Town Council are up for re-election. Giordano could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com