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LATIMER REFUSES TO SUE REPUBLICANS
Posted on Saturday, September 04 @ 23:24:23 EDT by jfbailey
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Anonymous writes " WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. From a WPCNR Observer September 5, 2004: George Latimer, County Legislator and former Chairman of the Board of Legislators, has decided not to sue the Republicans over the late placement of his opponent, Vincent Malfetano on the ballot. This ensures a Latimer-Malfetano match up in November, instead of a potential "no contest" benefitting Latimer.
The background is complicated. In May, County Republicans again endorsed ertswhile Democrat Ron Tocci to run for re-election in the 91st A.D. Tocci, a 20-year veteran who had to battle a vigorous opponent in 2002, surprised the political world on June 15 by declining a re-election run. Latimer, long rumoured to make a challenge on the Democratic line, officially jumped in, and the Republicans began a replacement quest for Tocci. New Rochelle Republican leader Doug Colety stepped in as the next (temporary) candidate for the completion of the petition drive. Colety declined after the petitions were qualified, and County Republicans named Rye's Glenn Dorr to run vs. Latimer. Within 24 hours, news surfaced that Dorr did not meet residency requirements of NY State Law, leaving the Republicans stuck as the July 23rd replacement deadline came and went.
Enter New Rochelle activist Vincent Malfetano, who, in early August, jumped in to fill the spot left by Dorr. At the same time, Democratic legal and political analysts advised Latimer that Malfetano's replacement could be successfully challenged in court, throwing him off the ballot - and leaving Latimer an instant winner and the next Assemblyman.
"I've spent my whole career fighting for inclusion and participation -= I can't go back on that now", stated Latimer. He instructed his campaign and party to refused to intiate legal action - an incredible, unusual situation - leaving Malfetano in place, and a race ahead this fall.
"You can't blame Vince", Latimer said. "He responded to his party's call. You can't blame Doug Colety - he sought an opponent vigorously. Perhaps Glenn Dorr should have done his homework and known he didn't qualify to run in 2004. In any event, you can't disenfranchise the Republicans and those who signed their petitions over such a technicality. I'm running to win on the merits, and to show I can do a better job in the Assembly. If I succeed, it will be because I've earned the people's support, not used the political process to benefit myself", Latimer concluded.
The 91st District - next door to Adam Bradley's Assembly District - includes Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye City, Mamaroneck Town and Village, Larchmont and part of New Rochelle. Latimer has Democratic, Independence and Working Families lines; Malfetano is on the Republican and Conservative lines.
Latimer represented a section of White Plains for eight years - 1994-2001 - in the County Legislature."
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