Category: Elections 2017

Walter advocates gun control for Westchester

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The Yonkers Times reports:

“Ruth Walter, the Democrat running for Westchester County Legislature in the 15th District, has unveiled her plan to address gun violence in Westchester … Walter has proposed two specific plans to help keep Westchester residents safe from the threat of gun violence. Similar to laws adopted in New York City and Suffolk County, Walter said that, as a county legislator, she will advocate for the creation of a gun offender registry in Westchester County … Walter said she also supports New York State’s Red Flag Law, which provides a critical resource to remove guns from people who are a threat to themselves and others. As a legislator, Walter said she will work to implement a “Red Flag mandatory notification” policy so that anyone who is a victim of domestic violence or reports domestic violence is given information about the law and how to petition the courts to remove guns …”

Walter is a zealot.  This is why local elections are important.

“… Usually, the issue of gun safety and violence does not come up in county legislative races. However, in this race, Walter has been able to contrast her views with that of her opponent, Republican County Legislator Gordon Burrows. Burrows accepted the endorsement of the Westchester County Firearms Owners Association in his elections in 2013 and 2015. According to Walter, the WCFOA is a local, NRA-like pro-gun organization that opposes common-sense gun laws, including opposing banning gun shows at the county-owned Convention Center even though such shows included neo-Nazi and confederate paraphernalia. Burrows voted against banning gun shows at the Westchester County Center in 2017 and 2018 …”

Scott, Mario and the guys at WCFOA do a great job with limited resources.

“… The race between Walter and Burrows is a rematch of their 2017 contest, in which Burrows won, becoming one of the few republicans to win in Westchester during a “blue wave” of democratic progressive turnout. The question in this race, and in the several other notable county board races coming Nov. 5, is: Can Walter and democrats encourage and excite their majority base of county democrats to come out during an election year in which there is no race for county executive, governor or president …”

Antigunners have never been able to turn out a voting block around their issues and the most immediate and noticeable effect of this blue wave was tax increases. Hopefully this will help Burrows.

2A advocates in Yonkers and Bronxville should support Burrows for re-election.

Cuomo on who New Yorkers are

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Govenor Cuomo swore in George Latimer as Westchester County Executive yesterday and brought up gun control:

“… Cuomo also used the opportunity Sunday to take a swipe at Republican lawmakers in Washington and warn that New York is in the midst of dark times.  “They’re making statements about who we are as a people, who we are as a society, what our character consists of, how we treat one another. They’re trying to take decades of process and civil rights and human rights and roll it all back … They want to roll back our gun safety laws. All across the board,” Cuomo said …”

Pot, meet Kettle:

“… The Republican Party candidates are running against the SAFE Act — it was voted for by moderate Republicans who run the Senate! Their problem is not me and the Democrats; their problem is themselves. Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-assault-weapon, anti-gay? Is that who they are? Because if that’s who they are and they’re the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that’s not who New Yorkers are …”

Decline and fall

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George Marlin has an excellent op-ed on the decline and fall of the Nassau County Republicans which makes for a good follow-up to Jack Martins’ welcome defeat on election day:

“… There was a time, however, when the Nassau GOP was the most respected and powerful political organization in the nation … But over time, the GOP machine began to rust.  Efficiently servicing the taxpayers took a backseat to rewarding political cronies with patronage and contracts … Meanwhile, the aging political machine’s influence at the polling booth continued to decline … The disastrous results on Election Day 2017 were the final nails in the coffin of the once mighty organization … Nassau Republicans are finished because their arrogance, incompetence and indifference to voter concerns has caught up with them …”

I would add the local Republicans sell-out first on Pataki’s 5-Point Plan then again on Cuomo’s SAFE Act played a big part in this collapse as well especially considering Martin’s campaigning loudly on his SAFE vote.

Say No to Spano

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Now that George Latimer has won the Westchester County Executive’s race, he must give up his seat in the Senate.  That means a special election.

To the surprise of no one, the Spano name has come up:

“… Add Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano’s name to the list of Democrats considering a run for George Latimer’s soon-to-be-vacant state Senate seat. Spano confirmed Monday he has spoken to party leaders about a potential run for the state Legislature, where he served in the Assembly for nearly 20 years … Spano, meanwhile, has two years left in his second term as mayor. Yonkers has term limits that prevent him from seeking a third term in 2019 …”

As a general rule, whenever a Spano is on the ballot in Westchester, residents should reflexively vote for whomever their opponent is no matter who they are.  Mike is no exception.  Plus with Mike, you get Nick and nobody wants that.  He was an antigun Republican in the Assembly and switched to Democrat to become Mayor.  I’ve suspected for sometime he would make a run for county office, but with Astorino on the way out, he needs to find another gig.  Hopefully someone better jump in.

 

 

Election aftermath

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Gun owners did not do well in yesterday’s election.  Moving from Long Island, here are the results:

Even before the election, Democrats made it known they would make a push for more gun control in Albany when the legislature returns to sessions in January:

“… Will gun control supplant abortion rights as a wedge issue in 2018? It may, at least in the state Senate … Now Senate Democrats, in the wake of recent mass shootings, including Sunday’s murder of 26 people in Sutherland Springs, Texas, are poised to launch a push for tougher gun laws with January’s legislative session …”

Of course they are.

“… Still, if history is a predictor, Senate Republicans will likely reject tougher gun control laws just as they have with abortion rights …”

Don’t count on that. If Astorino won, we’d be in a better position.

Sheriff Howard ahead in polls

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Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard has been a vocal critic of the SAFE Act since it’s inception.

He’s up for re-election this year and I’ve been searching for polling data to see how he’s doing.  Erie has an almost 2-1 Democrat enrollment advantage.  Only thing I could find was this Buffalo News article on his opponent:

“… Even though [Bernard Tolbert] should compete this year as a favorite in heavily Democratic Erie County, most polls show him trailing — though far from out of it …”

Good.  We need to keep Howard around.

Dick move, Joel

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Joel Tyner is an antigun county legislator from northern Dutchess.  He’s also batshit nuts.  He gave these out on Halloween:

Joel Tyner's Halloween Handout

I’d have egged his house.

 

16%

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A new poll shows incumbent Rob Astorino in a statistical tie with challenger George Latimer.

Of note is this finding:

“… 16% said the most important issue is gun shows at the Westchester County Center …”

Since gun control advocates have never been able to turn out the vote I am going to assume this is 2A people upset at Latimer’s efforts to prohibit them.

Support the Con Con

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There will be a question on the November ballot asking whether or not the state should hold a constitutional convention.  If approved there would be future votes on choosing delegates then actual changes to the constitution.

Looking at it from strictly a 2A perspective, I don’t believe there is much to get out of a Con Con:

  • For antigunners, there’s no real need.  The legislature can pass gun control bills at will.  The Governor just does not want more of it right now.
  • For pro-gunners, it’s doubtful we would get anything through.  I could see a creatively crafted re-wording of the pistol licensing law prohibiting discrimination that would make the state “shall issue”, but would it pass the voters?  Probably not.

With 2A off the table, the benefits of a Con Con to gun owners would be indirect.  I can see these items proposed and passed:

  • Term limits.  Far too many old farts have been around for 30+ years.  Albany needs new blood.
  • Fair redistricting.  Districts look as if someone sneezed on a map.  Doing it fairly would wipe out the Republicans, but that is going to happen anyway.
  • End to fusion ballots.

These would make elections much more competitive thereby giving gun owners more clout and that is what we sorely need in Albany.

Who is opposing the Con Con?  The bulk of the money is coming from unions and lawyers.  They’re not antigun per se, but are largely responsible for the culture of cronyism and corruption.  If their power is diminished that is a good thing.

Vote Yes on the Con Con.

Westchester poll shows close race

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An internal Democrat poll shows George Latimer leading incumbent Rob Astorino in the Westchester County Executive’s race 47% to 46%.

Because of the source there is likely significant bias which means Astorino is probably doing better than polling suggests. You get a hint of that with this acknowledgement:

“… The Latimer campaign internal poll shows 52% have a favorable view of Astorino and 38% an unfavorable one. For Latimer, 46% view him favorably and just 24% unfavorably …”

Anyone interested in helping Astorino can e-mail Rob Alberty or call the campaign at 917-755-6162.