Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
November 11, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 46 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Democrats score sizable victory, retain board majority Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino announced a potential 40-year, public-private partnership with the investment firm Oaktree Management to operate Westchester Airport. The deal is expected tobring in $140 million in additional revenue for the county. For story, see page 6. File photo
Latimer bests Killian to hold onto State Senate seat By SIBYLLA CHIPAZIWA Assistant Editor In a battle of neighbors, New York state Sen. George Latimer held on to his 37th District seat after a contentious campaign against Republican Julie Killian. As polls closed at 9 p.m. on
Nov. 8, some Latimer supporters started to trickle into Rosa’s La Scarbitta Ristorante on Halstead Avenue in the village of Mamaroneck, two doors down from Latimer’s campaign headquarters. According to unofficial results from the Westchester
County Board of Elections as of press time, Latimer, a Rye Democrat, won with 66,751 or 55 percent of votes to Killian’s 53,975 or 45 percent with 99 percent of districts reporting. For Latimer, the win continues a streak of 17 consecutive election victories without tasting de-
feat. But the wins have not always been easy. “We’ve turned politics into a blood sport; we’ve turned it into a demolition derby, and that’s not what politics is,” he said. At his headquarters as the LATIMER continued on page 8
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer Village of Mamaroneck incumbent Trustee Leon Potok and newly elected trustees Keith Waitt and Victor Tafur came out victorious in what turned out to be an indisputable election with political control of the village at stake. The scene at Bar’Lees Wine & Whisky Bar on Mamaroneck Avenue, which served as the headquarters for the Democratic candidates, was animated and festive as the polls closed and the final ballots were cast. Shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 8, volunteers and supporters of the Democratic candidates gathered around a television depicting the results, which were presented on a digital spreadsheet. “I’m super nervous right now,” whispered one supporter as Tafur and Waitt huddled around the television screen. Despite the nerve-wracking atmosphere, momentum shifted completely in favor of the Democrats after results poured in from several village districts. By around 9:30 p.m., the Democratic candidates and their supporters had declared victory. According to unofficial results from the Westchester County Board of Elections, as of press time, Tafur, with 3,710 votes, Waitt, with 3,560, and Potok, with 3,550, handily defeated
their Republican counterparts; Joerne Malte Stoeckhert captured 2,758 votes, Maria Derose scored 2,995, and Dennis Cucinella picked up 3,000. “Our campaign was steady and clear, and I think it fits the moment in this difficulty,” Tafur told the Review after his victory speech. “I’m humbled and hope my words and intensions are well-received. We purposefully focused on keeping a positive campaign; it wasn’t a risky move, but you take your chances on doing that and it definitely helped.” The campaign was hardfought, with candidates taking the offensive to call out the divisiveness of the current village board. However, there is no doubt that the results depended heavily on voter turnout, according to Waitt. “We always knew that the village’s majority was Democratic,” Waitt told the Review. “We thought, if we could get the voters out, we should have a good DEMS continued on page 9