PEEKSKILL City Republicans and Democrats continue to fight for the Independence Party line in this falls election. A New York State Appellate Court recently affirmed the Aug. 5 decision of a New York State Supreme Court motion to invalidate Independence Party petitions for Democratic candidates for mayor, city council and county legislator for District 1.
The lawsuit was filed by former Peekskill Councilwoman Cathy Pisani, who argued that the signatures gathered to place Michael Kane, Mary Foster, Donald Bennett, and Kathleen Talbot on the Independence Party line, were collected by a Cortlandt Manor resident, who misrepresented where he lived on the petitions.
The Westchester County Independence Party had chosen the Democratic candidates to receive its endorsement, but Pisani said the county Independence Party leadership did not reflect the citys Independence Partys wishes.
Its no secret that members of the Peekskill Independence Party disagreed with their county party bosses about whom to endorse in this falls election, Pisani said. And its no wonder they couldnt find a party member from Peekskill to collect signatures.
Peekskills Republican Chairman, Vincent C. Vesce urged Democrats to end the appeals process. A total of six judges have now had an opportunity to review the facts and they have concurred that the petitions were invalid,Vesce said.
But Democrat Michael Kane, the former Peekskill Democratic chairman who is running to unseat County Legislator John Testa, said there is a good chance that several Democratic candidates may keep the Independence endorsements according to legal experts consulting him.
I dont think the court have finished with this, Kane said. Kane said he was still considering his options after being knocked off the line, but said he was more focused on campaigning in his district. Im campaigning door-to-door, Im not worried about this anymore, Kane said. And anyway there will be a spot to write my name in on the [primary] ballot.
Westchester Independence Party Chairman Guilio Cavallo said he believed the signature decision would eventually be overturned, since party volunteers often collect signatures in other parts of the state where there is a lack of party workers.
The law says you can live anywhere in the state and carry petitions, Cavallo said.
Cavallo said the court of appeals is expected to hear the case again on Aug. 24. He added that Westchester Republicans have challenged several Independence Party endorsements in the county this year in county legislator races. Rob Astorino wants a super-majority, Cavallo said.
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