Updated: Republican Chair Says City Should Hold Off On Special Election

Since , Common Council President Thomas Roach has pushed to immediately hold a special election—to fill the remainder of former Mayor Adam Bradley’s term. City Republicans, however, want the election to occur as late as possible.

In a letter to Roach, White Plains Republican Committee Chairman Brian Maloney said the special election should be held as late as possible, and that waiting it out "allows for the citizens of White Plains to exercise fully their voting franchise, and any attempt to circumscribe that franchise by creating an unnecessary and restrictive calendar attacks the fundamental right of every citizen to support candidates and parties of their choice."

Click on the PDF to read the entire letter. 

The city’s charter states that a special election must be held within 60 days of the vacancy. Since Bradley , the last day the election could be held would be April 19. The White Plains Common Council will vote Tuesday night on a resolution that sets the special election date for March 31.

“This city has been in limbo for a year basically, and it needs to come to an end,” said Roach. “I think people are ready for the election and there is plenty of time to campaign. I think the citizens deserve this. What I want to do is move as quickly as possible to elect a mayor, and move pass this year of limbo we’ve all been in.”

Roach, Councilman Benjamin Boykin and Westchester County Legislator William Ryan, all Democrats, have said they would like to run for the mayoral seat, according to White Plains CitizenNetReporter. They have also reported that former Councilman Glen Hockley will run as an independent. The Journal News said Republicans plan to choose their own candidate. 

In his letter to Roach, Maloney said Roach and Boykin should not vote Tuesday night to set the date of the election, since he feels it would be a conflict of interest.

"This is a partisan political election and I believe, again, that the failure of the common council and yourself to discuss this matter with any political party other than the Democrat party lends itself to the perception that you have no desire to be inclusive of all of the political parties in White Plains—and further that you seek an advantage in the upcoming elections by rushing to the polls, to benefit exclusively yourself or Mr. Boykin," said Maloney, in his Feb. 28 letter. 

Boykin said he has no plans to abstain from voting Tuesday night.

“I think it’s totally bogus and has no merit,” said Boykin. “There is no conflict of interest whatsoever.”

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