Testa Wins Independence Party Line in District 1

CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. – Incumbent Westchester County legislator for District 1 John Testa (R/Peekskill) has won the Independence Party line in the district’s primary as a write-in candidate.

Although the Board of Elections continues to list the results as “unofficial” on its website, it has 100 percent of the district votes counted.

The Westchester County Board of Elections reported that only 75 registered independents voted in the primary election on September 13, a total of 41 for Testa, and 21 for Democrat Michael Kane.

“A write-in is not an easy primary,” said Testa, “and I appreciate the people who went out and made sure the right thing was done."

In a media release sent Sept. 25 announcing his victory, Testa contended his opponent used “fraudulent and underhanded tactics” and that he was “hardly anything but a rank partisan political operative who uses unfounded personal attacks, innuendo and rumor as daily tools of his trade.”

Kane, who is the chairman of the Peekskill Democratic City Committee, said despite the fact he expected more people would vote for him, “Little more than three percent of the people that could have voted, voted, and I would have thought that the number of years that John’s been running he would have had more people vote.”

He added, “Maybe some of the Independence voters that voted in the past are disappointed with his record as a county legislator.”

Testa has described the current state of Peekskill as an “abyss of deficit spending, outrageous borrowing, hidden taxes, neighborhood deterioration, increased crime, civil unrest and lost business and jobs,” under the leadership of his opponent.

The former Peekskill mayor denied that although he also represents the district, he bared no responsibility for what he interprets as Peekskill’s current state of affairs. “I am a county representative, I brought them money for some of their projects, but I don’t control what the city, the municipality, does in city hall.”

Testa also said the district has "done tremendous” under his leadership. County legislators serve two year terms, and Testa would be entering his second two-year term if he wins the election for District 1.

Kane responded by saying, “It’s still a wide open game, I think I have a very good chance of winning the election, it’s just making sure the voters know the difference between me and Testa,” or, “just a matter of voters getting to know who Mike Kane is.”

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