Several Party Lines at Stake During Local Primaries

Supervisor candidate Ron Belmont (R) will hope a write-in campaign is enough for him to capture the Independence Party line from incumbent Joan Walsh (D) during Tuesday’s local primary election.

Although Belmont won’t be on the ballot, he received enough signatures among registered Independence Party members this summer to be considered for a write-in campaign. He has already received endorsements from the Republican and Conservative parties. Walsh, meanwhile, has accepted an endorsement from the Democrats.

There are no primaries in the two town council or town clerk races. 

Although there are only about 800 registered members of the Independence Party in Harrison, Walsh said that since local elections are historically close, every party line is important.

“Since the Supervisor/Mayor usually wins by a small margin, it’s important,” she said. “The elections are very close.”

Belmont said he would welcome the Independence Line, calling himself a true Independent with no allegiances to either major party.

“Up to four or five months ago I’ve had no political affiliation at all, I’ve been in government for 36 years, but I’ve never been in politics,” Belmont said. “I think I represent (the Independence Party) very well, I’m not affiliated.”

Walsh said historically write-in campaigns are difficult because a slight mistake, such as miss-spellings and abbreviated first names, can discount a ballot.

“It has to be precisely how it’s registered,” Walsh said.

Walsh challenged Belmont’s petition to even be considered as a write-in candidate, citing discrepancies on the petition. But a judge later confirmed Belmont's petition.

Belmont said he hopes he has earned enough of a following within the party to pull off the write-in victory.

“If I can win the primary it would be wonderful, it’s been a long battle,” he said. “Hopefully the Independence voters will come out and realize that I’m a true Independent.”

Walsh said she hopes she has done the same.

“I hope that I’ve convinced them that I’m interested in the betterment of the town,” she said.

Meanwhile, several other party nominations are on the line in local elections. The Independence and Conservative lines are both up for grabs between the candidates for town/village justice. Nelson E. Canter, Mark J. Lust and Ronald B. Bianchi will run for two endorsements from the Independence line. Canter, Lust, Bianchi and Pasquale G. Gizzo will seek the Conservative line’s two endorsements.

In the general election voters will select two of the four justice candidates. Bianchi and Lust are incumbents. 

In the race for Westchester County Legislature, Dan Brakewood and Mark Jaffe will primary for the Democratic endorsement for District 6. David Gelfarb will face a write-in campaign for the Conservative line in District 6.

Polls in Harrison will open Tuesday morning, we will have more detailed voter information available next week.