Somers Supervisor's Signs as County Clerk Candidate Ruled Unfair

Members of the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee considered, without a hearing, the complaint of Timothy Idoni, incumbent county clerk, against Somers Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy.

Murphy is running on the Republican and Conservative Party lines for the position of county clerk against Idoni, a Democrat.

Here are the findings by the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee as provided:

COMPLAINT: Idoni complained that Murphy’s lawn signs read: "Mary Beth Murphy Westchester County Clerk” implying that Murphy is the incumbent office holder when she is not.

FINDING: Unfair

A candidate should not create the false impression that he/she is an incumbent. Signs such as these should be remedied by adding the words Elect" or "For" for clarification.

Murphy, who was elected to her position as Somers Supervisor in 1998, announced earlier this year that she will not seek re-election and will instead be running for Westchester County Clerk this November. Read more here.

Idoni's career in public management began with a position as assistant to the Village Administrator in Bronxville before he was hired in New Rochelle as Director of Emergency Services. He was promoted to Deputy City Manager at age 27. Idoni was elected to run the County Clerk’s office in 2005 and then re-elected in 2009.

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According to the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee, its purpose is to "promote a climate in which candidates conduct honest and fair campaigns." The Committee encourages candidates to conduct campaigns openly and fairly, to discuss issues, to refrain from dishonest and defamatory attacks, and not to use campaign materials that distort the facts. Its task is to accept written complaints about alleged unfair campaign practices and to determine whether the action complained about is indeed unfair.