White Plains GOP endorses Democrat Bradley for mayor, tossing another curve into the race
[b]BY KEITH EDDINGS • [/b][url=mailto:keddings@lohud.com][b]KEDDINGS@LOHUD.COM[/b][/url][b] • JUNE 5, 2009[/b] WHITE PLAINS - Democrat Adam Bradley has built a record as one of New York's most liberal legislators during his eight years in the Assembly, where he has helped lead the charge from the left on issues that include gay marriage, abortion rights and gun control.
The Republicans crossed party lines a second time to endorse Democratic Councilman Tom Roach for a third term, suggesting, along with the party's mayoral endorsement, how few options the GOP has as the post-Delfino era dawns in a city where Delfino is the only Republican left in elected office.
Bradley's sizable campaign account, the fact that the GOP had no obvious candidates to run against him and the Democrats' growing majority among local voters made the four-term state assemblyman a formidable favorite in the mayoral race even before he received the cross-endorsement. But Republican City leader Brian Maloney said the party's decision was driven by policy, not politics.
"The residents of White Plains would be best served by putting aside the divisiveness that has for too long marred the business of good government," Maloney said in an written statement at 6:25 p.m. "As such, partisan politics must take a backseat to sound public policy focused on protecting the wallets of our residents."
Bradley, a former chairman of the Democratic City Committee, also spoke in bipartisan terms last night. He said the Republican endorsement is "an honor" and said he was not uncomfortable running with a party that would be running candidates against Democrats in other races in the fall.
"This is about the city of White Plains, about a shared vision and my goal of working together with anybody to make sure our city is the best it can be," Bradley said. "That's going to require a shared effort among very disparate parts of our city."
Bradley said he would consider appointing Republicans if he wins Nov. 3, but said appointments were not a part of the talks that got him the Republican line.
In endorsing two Democrats, the GOP snubbed a third, rejecting a request from Democratic Councilman Glen Hockley to run for mayor on their line. Democrats denied Hockley renomination for his council seat in April, when they endorsed Roach and newcomers David Buchwald, a tax lawyer, and Beth Smayda, a credit analyst, for the council.
The Republicans stuck with their own in selecting two other council candidates last night. They endorsed Leonard Lolis, a former director of Information Services for the city, and James Arndt, a Manhattan retailer.
Only about 12 Republican district leaders attended the Republican City Committee meeting at Maloney's home last night, and about that many voted by proxy. Committee Vice Chairman Tim Sheehan said only one or two leaders voted against Bradley.
"On the Republican side, we didn't feel we had someone who was really ready and committed to run," Sheehan said. "On the Democratic side, Glen had submitted his name. That's when we thought, 'You know what? Maybe we ought to think about Adam."
