Rockland Democratic Party Chairman Plans to Step Down in January

Vincent Monte, the man who has led Rockland County's Democratic political organization for most of the last three decades, has decided to step down in January.

Monte, 68, said Monday he wants to continue as chairman of the county Democratic Committee through this year's elections – especially the local race to fill the seat of the late state Sen. Thomas Morahan – but he then plans on giving up the leadership post to a still-to-be named successor.

"Thirty years is a long time to do anything," said Monte, a Stony Point resident. "It's time for me to move on. It's been a big part of my life for a long time."

Monte said he will soon be sending a letter to Rockland Democratic leaders announcing that he intends to seek re-election as county chairman at the committee's late-September re-organization meeting. However, he said he will also explain that he plans on resigning in January and turning over the post to the person who emerges as the party's choice for a new leader.

"This year's elections are so important I don't want there to be any disruption during those elections," said Monte.

Leading Democrats statewide in the November election is Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who wants to succeed David Paterson as governor. Cuomo was in Rockland last week rallying supporters and is expected to return to Rockland for a major rally in September.

Local Democrats are also backing Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci in his bid to become Rockland's next state senator. Carlucci, 29, of New City, is running against Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, 61, a Republican, for Morahan's seat.

Morahan, a Republican from New City, died July 12 at age 78 after a sixth-month battle with leukemia. In the months before his death, Morahan announced he did not intend to seek re-election because of his illness.

Carlucci, who praised Monte's work as county Democratic chairman, said Monte's decision to continue in his position through the elections gives Rockland Democrats a chance to see who among them shows strong leadership skills during the campaign season.

"This will give Democrats a chance to see the different people out there and what they can do," Carlucci said.

Rockland County Clerk Paul Piperato, a Haverstraw Democrat, said Monte's role as chairman is not an easy one to fill because of the many divisions among local Democrats. Piperato said the person to emerge as the next head of the party will have to be able to bring those many factions together.

"I don't really think of myself as the 'chairman,'" Monte said. "I think of myself as a conciliator. The Democratic Party is such a big umbrella. It's a big group, a diverse group in one tent. I am giving the party the opportunity to come up with the right person. It will be up to the party to make the choice of the next chairman."

A native of Haverstraw who went on to become town Democratic chairman in Stony Point, Monte was first elected chairman of Rockland's Democratic Committee in 1980. He served as chairman until 1996, when Clarkstown Democrat Paul W. Adler became county chairman. Monte returned to lead the party in 2000 following Adler's resignation amid a federal bribery probe.

Monte says he got his real start in politics working with the Young Democrats on the presidential campaign of Robert Kennedy. Monte worked in 1974 on the successful gubernatorial campaign of Hugh Carey and he later worked on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in support of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy's presidential bid.

As county chairman, Monte said he has enjoyed being the voice of Rockland Democrats on the state and national levels. Monte was an early supporter of Hilary Rodham Clinton's campaign for president and he says that support later led to criticism by some Democrats that Rockland did not campaign hard enough for the party's eventual nominee in 2008, Barack Obama.

Aimee Vargas, executive director of the Rockland Democratic Committee, described Monte as a highly respected political leader in Rockland and New York State. She said Monte is viewed as a many who has dedicated his life to the Democratic Party and has done some with integrity.

Monte said that when he steps down as chairman he will still remain involved in Democratic politics. However, he said he'll spend more time focusing on his personal life and his business, The Monte Group title insurance company in Stony Point.

"I am not going to disappear," Monte said. "But it's time for a new leader."