Anger is Causing the Yonkers City Clerk’s “Done Deal” to Unravel By HEZI ARIS

Anger, perception, patronage strings, power. Each has taken a bite in the fight over succession to the office of Yonkers City Clerk. Yonkers City Clerk Joan Deierlein is retiring by the end of June 2012. Her successor has been contemplated since months ago the Yonkers Tribune made mention of her departure. Months later she made verbal notice of her departure. Names of those contemplated were thrust among the inner sanctum of backroom players to field the “one”. It would turn out to be a messy task that will come before the Yonkers City Council meeting this Tuesday, June 26, 2012.

When Yonkers Tribune reported it was done deal last week, it was. But anger had set in. The “done deal” had too many people unglued. Then there was the perception that present Yonkers 2^nd Deputy Clerk should not be afforded the post of Yonkers City Clerk despite his decade long experience and efficiency at the job; the thought was that id would seem the Spanos would be taking over. Everyone you ask deems the position a job that serves the public with information and assistance. Even so, every political party deems they need a representative in the position of Yonkers City Clerk as the City Clerk conducts the election process.

Every individual of influence of perceived influence has his or her own agenda at play in designating their choice for the Yonkers City Clerk, a 1^st Yonkers Deputy Clerk, and a 2^nd Yonkers City Clerk. The power slugfest has turned into a food fight. Yonkers takes no prisoners; instead, it injures adversaries to within a breath of their life.

Last we witnessed the food fight, José Alvarado for Yonkers City Clerk, supported and promoted by Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, and Yonkers City Council Majority Leader Wilson Terrero, had worked out a deal with Yonkers City Council Minority Leader John Larkin, and Councilmen Dennis Shepherd, and Michael Breen to that end. Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick, and Councilmen Christopher Johnson and Michael Sabbatino were vehemently opposed. Well, in reality they were following the backroom deliberations among Yonkers City Democratic Chairperson Symra Brandon, Pauline Galvin, legal counsel to Mike Spano, and recently appointed to the Yonkers Civil Service Commission, and Kenneth Jenkins, Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators. Their directive was simply, hurt Mr Terrero for straying beyond his party position. Kill the inept José Alvarado appointment, make Wilson Terrero’s king making antics impotent, entice support from Mayor Mike Spano by offering him 2^nd Yonkers Deputy Clerk Vincent Spano the position of Yonkers City Clerk, re-ignite George Kevgas (Democrat) to position of 1^st Yonkers City Clerk, and accept Michael Ramondelli (Republican) as Yonkers 2^nd City Clerk or in his place, accept Ms. Christina Henry, Esq. (Working Families Party). Ms Christina Henry is being promoted by Yonkers City Councilman Michael Sabbatino (D-WF-District 3).

The maid in shining armor, unscathed by any bloodletting may be the sophistication, intelligence, and mature sensibilities of Mary Beth Gafney who quietly presents herself as a lucid choice for 1^st or 2^nd Yonkers City Clerk worthy of consideration.

The reality is the triumvirate of those stirring the cauldron demanding only their ingredients worthy of consideration for Yonkers City Clerk may have won the day. Their outcome has Vincent Spano as City Clerk, and if George Kevgas is placed for 1^st Deputy City Clerk and wins, Mr Terrero will recoil his scheming antics to the delight of the Brandon, Galvin, and Jenkins triumvirate. Mayor Mike Spano will have relented, but only seemingly so. Chuck Lesnick’s choice of Ms Henry will not likely make much headway. And the Republicans had best quickly find a candidate for the position or relent to keep the 2^nd Yonkers City Clerk position vacant for another 6 months or so.

It’s a total mess. Bring overripe tomatoes to the Yonkers City Council Chambers this Tuesday, June 26^th, BUT only for SHOW. No throwing fruit allowed!

 

Comments

[Z man]

This city is so corrupt, even the DPW cannot haul away the stink. What is wrong with having these positions civil service tested positions where the highest score gets the job. Take the politics out of the city clerks office.

[Overtaxed]

Agreed. Positions should be elected or civil service tested. There is no need for any patronage jobs in this or the last century.

[Good govt. is hard to come by]

Civil service testing is fine for lower level jobs A govt. can tolerate marginal employees and hacks in limited numbers in lower level jobs. It becomes a real problem when civil service protections are afforded to high level positions that should be exempt but because of cow towing to unions for votes these positions are increasing rather than decreasing Such is the case in both City and County government. If Spano and Astorino are smart and either believes in responsible govt, they should decertify every position they can to bring in qualified people and not just additional hacks!

[it's a joke!]

forget civil service hacks
open it to the MOST QUALIFIED APPLICANT.
is this so complicated?...or what do you have to protect.

[threesidestotruth]

By saying more qualified people you mean more friends and family rather than open it to all citizens and set minimum qualifications and let testing/interview process prevail. OK, how about no.