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newyork

Jonathan Gordon

WCPP622B_2025-06-22-12-13-41

Welcome back to Power and Politics. This is a special Vote 2025 primary election preview show where we are giving you a look at the key races and the candidates shaping the future of our region. Earlier in the show, we broke down the biggest races in Westchester County. Now we're turning our focus to key contests in Rockland, Orange, and Putnam counties. The most closely watched race in Rockland County is for the mayor of Spring Valley. Outspoken Mayor Alan Simon announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection. Simon, who at times publicly clashed with colleagues and the press, held the position since 2017. The village has faced code issues, a lack of affordable and safe housing, and concerns of overdevelopment. Five Democrats are running in this primary Educator Darnette Davis, former village trustee Uson Francois, small business owner Crispin Eugene. Rockland Democratic Committee chair Shenaly Vita and former Spring Valley Mayor Normie Jasmine are all all on that ballot. News Twelve's Diane Caruso caught up with some of those candidates. I don't think how long you've been in the village should be a litmus test to who should be it should be really who's most competent and who's most qualified. Shenley Vital does not live in the village but would move if elected. The businessman, attorney, and former chair of the county Democrats spoke with me at his property in Nyack. His focus would include addressing contracts and getting more grants. Utz and Tyson Francois is a former village trustee. He's called Spring Valley home for decades since moving here from Haiti. I do feel great I feel great. I feel it because every time I'm on the road, folks are saying that we got you we got you we got you. He wants to address housing, crime, and improving infrastructure. I am committed. I am, uh, transparent and I'm ready to take on the challenges. Of this village. Darnet E. Davis is a board member at Finkelstein Memorial Library. The Jamaican immigrant has spent more than a decade in childcare. Her focus would include improving roads, attracting businesses, and the taxi industry. How do these candidates plan to steer the village of 33,000? My honesty, my integrity. Will allow me to run the village effectively and efficiently. Ensure that we have the right people in place ready to serve the people of Spring Valley. When folks see that there's a collaborator in office that's competent and that's that's presenting a vision of what Spring Valley can be, I think people will come on board. In Spring Valley, Diane Crusoe, news 12. You don't need someone you're gonna hold their hands to learn the the job. News 12 also caught up with another candidate in the Democratic primary for Spring Valley mayor. Norami Jasmine wants to be the village's mayor once again. She served in that role from 2009 to 2013 and hopes her accomplishments in office gets her back there this November. In 2015, she was convicted and sentenced to four years for federal charges in a bribery case while mayor. If elected this time, she tells us she would have an advisory board to help her vet people she deals with. We asked her for a message to the residents who have a hard time trusting her. They're willing because they know my second chance will be the first for Spring Valley, because at this point of time, Springing Valley is in a deep hole. You need someone with experience to deliver for Spring Valley. We've not yet heard back from Crispin Eugene. Two candidates are running for the Republican nomination, Darnette Davis, who is seeking both parties' nomination, and Aaron Stern. Two Democrats are also facing off in the primary race for Middletown mayor. Incumbent Joe DeStefano is being challenged by Orange County legislator Joel Sierra. DeStefano was first elected mayor in 1993 and served until 2005, and he returned to office in 2009, winning every election since. He says his priorities remain reducing crime, boosting economic development, and expanding recreational opportunities in the city. Sierra has served as an Orange County legislator for the last 8 years, representing the 20th district, but his campaign has been clouded by controversy. Earlier this year, he faced public pressure to resign after missing nearly every legislative meeting over the past 3 years, despite continuing to receive a full salary and benefits. Zierra, a full-time Middletown firefighter until he was injured on the job in 2022, says that injury kept him from attending meetings in person. He claims he stayed involved virtually and maintained communication with colleagues and constituents. In March, Sierra told News 12 he would show up for the job if elected mayor, though he did not respond to multiple requests for an interview ahead of the primary or this show, the incumbent did. Well, very simply, work ethic. I mean, I'm running against a guy that represented Middletown in the county legislature and missed 154 consecutive meetings, did not go to a meeting for nearly 3 years, collected his paycheck, and had not even attending virtually, although he claimed he did, but then under oath he had to admit that he did not attend virtually either. So you can't expect to Um, do this job. We spend almost $60 million a year in the city, and it's day to day. It's, it's a grind. It's hard work. We have a good team. You need leadership and, and that's what I provided in Middletown is work ethic leadership. Sometimes we don't agree on things with people, but that's to be, uh, but, but I, I, I give people an opportunity to be heard and I show up and I do the job, and I think that's the difference between myself and my opponent. He's looking to cash in. He, you know, he sued the city for $3.5 million lost the case. He's looking to reopen the case, and, um, and so he has a self-interest here, I think, not people's interest, but self-interest. Mayor, I appreciate the time. Was there anything else you wanted to bring up while I had you here that I didn't ask you about? Well, he also in regards to the opponent also, you know, he, as a Democrat, he went to the Republican Party to seek their endorsement and try to, you know, offer to switch parties to run as a Republican. So you know, we're in a Democratic primary. This is not the general election, and I think Democrats need to know that. Um, if you have someone who's willing to switch parties in order to become a candidate for mayor, I don't think the Democrats want to see that person sitting in this chair. There are also two primary races for Middletown Alderman positions in wards 3 and 4. In Ward 3, incumbents Katie Ray and Paul Johnson are running for reelection for 2 seats. They're being challenged by Roberto Brown and Rafael Cordero. In Ward 4, incumbent Je Jean Francois is looking to retain her seat. Longtime alderman Sparrow Tobin is retiring at the end of this term, leaving that seat open for challengers Alex Rodriguez and Evelyn Ortega. After the break, we're heading to Putnam County where we take a closer look at the key races for county legislature and two hotly contested Republican town supervisor primaries plus what you need to know before you head to the polls on election day. Stay with us.

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WCPP622C_2025-06-22-12-15-30

Welcome back to this special Vote 2025 primary edition of Power and Politics. Let's check in with a few of the big races in Putnam County before we wrap up the show. In Putnam County, there are 3 Republican primary races in two legislative districts. In District 5, incumbent deputy legislator Greg Elner faces a challenge from Jake D'Angelo, a construction superintendent. D'Angelo calls himself an America first candidate promising to cut taxes and push for government transparency. Eller says he's running on his record tackling rising costs and protecting Lake Carmel's water quality. Meanwhile, in District 8, Paul Janke is not seeking re-election, making it an open primary. On the Republican side. Southeast resident Tom Brand faces off against Brewster Fire Department President Tommy Reagan. Brand is also competing for the conservative line against John O'Connor, professional in safety and emergency management. There's a Republican primary for Carmeltown supervisor for the third straight election cycle. Incumbent Michael Kazari is seeking a third term facing challenger Frank Sciano. Kazari, the former police chief in the town, first won the seat in 2021 by defeating longtime supervisor Ken Schmidt, then beating Schmidt again in 2023 for a rematch. He says if reelected he'll focus on infrastructure, public safety, and economic development. Siano, a construction worker and frequent critic at town meetings, says he entered the race because the board hasn't done enough on key issues. His platform includes fixing the water system, accelerating town projects, and fighting corruption. Here's what both of them had to say. What you need is someone who, who can not just motivate, but, but also deal with the crisises with, you know, with a calm hand. I see what goes on in the meetings and I think it's ridiculous, and it's gotta stop. Um, there's a lot of nepotism in this town. There's another Republican primary for town supervisor in Putnam County this time in Putnam Valley, two-term supervisor Jacqueline Enabe is seeking re-election running on her record in office. She's being challenged by Stephanie Waters, a lifelong Putnam Valley resident positioning herself as the outsider promising change. Voters will decide whether to stick with experience or opt for some new leadership. That does it for our show today. News 12 will have results and reaction on Tuesday night, as well as updates throughout the rest of the week as those results continue to trickle in. Once again, I'm Jonathan Gordon, and this has been a special vote 2025 primary election episode of Power and Politics right here on News 12, where local elections lead to national change. More news, weather and your hyper local headlines are coming up right after the break.

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This weekend, we're highlighting key races across the Hudson Valley in this 'all local' primary election day.

Power & Politics: Vote 2025 primary election day preview

This weekend, we're highlighting key races across the Hudson Valley in this 'all local' primary election day.

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