Politics & Government

Councilman Bianco to Remain Yorktown Democratic Party's Endorsed Supervisor Candidate

Yorktown Councilman Nick Bianco will remain the Yorktown Democratic Committee's endorsed supervisor candidate despite a challenge Wednesday night from district leader and former committee chairman Marc Oxman.

"It's disappointing that we had to go back and into square one," said Lisa Mackay, a district leader and a member of the nominating committee who supports Bianco's nomination. "It was a distraction."

Committee members held a meeting Wednesday when 81 percent of the members expressed their continued support for the endorsement of Bianco, a registered Conservative. 

Mackay said Oxman had the chance to be a part of the process, but instead he did not show up to the meeting nor did he vote when Bianco was first nominated last month.  

"I was particularly surprised and distressed to see that Marc Oxman has decided to try and overturn what was a lengthy and excavating process to select a slate of candidates before making our recommendations to the board and all the members of the Democratic Committee," she wrote in a letter to the rest of the district leaders. "Why are we reopening it now just to please one member who didn't even show us the courtesy of participating when he had every opportunity to do so?"

Because Bianco is not a registrered Democrat, he would need to file a document known as Wilson-Pakula with the Board of Election in order to appear on the Democratic Line.

Oxman wants the Democratic party members to withhold the Wilson-Pakula, he wrote in a letter addressed to distrcit leaders.

"Bianco's record is completely antagonistic to the core principals of the Democratic Party," Oxman wrote. "But that he may have cast an occasional vote which is convenient on a personal level, does not excuse his parties' contempt for Democratic ideals relating to civil rights, women's rights, choice and fairness."

Mackay described Wednesday's meeting as civilized and respectful. She said Oxman gave a passionate statement as to why committee members should not support Bianco and in turn Democratic Committee members gave specific reasons as to why they should. 

"We can do better," Oxman wrote in a letter to the Committee's district leaders. "The Yorktown Democratic Party is a critical crossroads. Its choice should not be made precipitously, and without serious deliberation."

In the end, Bianco received the committee's endorsement again and Mackay said she hopes the Party can go forward "unified" and focus on working together toward the November election.

To read more about the Yorktown Democratic Committee's nominees, click here.

Marc Oxman could not be reached in time for publication. 


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