By Ron Matten
Years of neglect by the Yonkers Republican City Committee leadership has led to a grass roots uprising among rank and file republican loyalists. A coalition of Debbie Kozak, Brandan Neider, and party endorsed candidates are challenging the old guard of the Yonkers GOP.
The discontent has been brewing for over a decade since Mike Spano switched parties and the Spano Political Machine, helmed by lobbyist Nick Spano, abandoned the Yonkers GOP. The last republican to win a city-wide race was former Council President Liam McLaughlin in 2013. After Liam’s crushing defeat to Mike Khader in 2017, it is widely believed that a republican cannot win citywide office. The facts would bear out the hypothesis, as the Yonkers GOP has largely become the Spano JV team.
While many in the party have sought to run good candidates who vow to deliver a safe city with reasonable fiscal constraints, others have acted like gate keepers so that Spano surrogates can maintain their control over city affairs, including zoning concerns. This is important as Empire Strategic Planning, a Spano Family enterprise is the lobbyist for the majority of developers doing business in the city. The key services at city hall are property development a not delivering municipal services. ESP is paid millions to represent the interest of developers.
The conflict came to a head this election season when ward leaders representing the 4th Council District and 14th County Legislative District refused to endorse independent republican candidates. These candidates, Tony Solieri (4th CC) and Michael Pineda (14th CLD) eventually won their party’s nomination, thanks to the independence of chairs, Robert Moffit and Doug Colety.
The final straw occurred when ward leaders representing the constituent wards refused to distribute the nominating petitions to their district leaders. Brandon Neider who attempted to run for the 14th County Legislative District four years ago, seized on the opportunity and presented a slate of district leaders who can elect loyal ward leaders as replacements to the culprits. Mr. Neider was blocked four years ago by the same gatekeepers.
Ms. Kozak, who had run unsuccessfully for County Legislative District 16, has also seized upon the opportunity to relinquish the party of its gatekeepers. While running she experienced her own headwinds from within the party, as the majority of the ward leaders are Yonkers employees or professionals having business in front of the city. The culprits have an interest in keeping the status quo. In Yonkers, it’s more about patronage than party. Ms. Kozak has spent the last two years building a successful independent political club, as her stock climbs within the party.
Yonkers has 12 wards, and the ward leaders are responsible for voting in the party chair and candidates. In the Yonkers Republican City Committee, 11 wards are constituted, meaning they have representation. Seven of the 11 wards are controlled by city employees, relatives of city employees, or those having business in front of the city. Only the first, fourth, fifth, and tenth ward have any real independence. Unfortunately wards one and four represent very few republicans and therefore, have a low vote count in selecting leadership positions.
Throughout the next week, the Westchester Board of Elections will hear challenges and objections and for the first time in known history, Yonkers may have a free and independent republican party.
Ron Matten ran as a republican candidate for Yonkers City Council President in 2021 receiving 47.5% of the vote. He is a registered republican and district leader.
