2013 Pro-Choice Voting Guide Endorsements
WCLA PAC, the political action committee that makes its endorsements based on the candidate ratings made by the Board of Directors of WCLA – Choice Matters, is proud to announce its endorsements in the 2013 Elections.
Westchester County Executive
NOAM BRAMSON (D,W,I)
Noam Bramson has a history of advocating for women’s reproductive rights.
In contrast, Bramson’s opponent was endorsed by the Right to Life 9th Judicial District Committee and opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest or to save the woman’s life.
On a county level, the position of the County Executive is very important. Bramson’s opponent vetoed a law that would have given women safe access to reproductive health centers, whether they were going for cancer screenings or abortions.
Bramson’s opponent, Rob Astorino, does not believe women are entitled to the most basic of rights – safe access to health care. In addition Bramson’s opponent opposes comprehensive sex ed, cut funding to those programs, and instead focuses on abstinence-only education.
District Attorney
JANET M. DIFIORE (D,W,I)
County Clerk
TIMOTHY C. IDONI (D,W)
As Mayor, Idoni welcomed Planned Parenthood’s new offices to New Rochelle.
Westchester County Legislature
We have more pro-choice women running for office here in Westchester County than ever before!
Particular appreciation and attention goes to Rachelle “Rocky” Richard who is running in District 14 against an 18-year incumbent. This incumbent claimed to be pro-choice but – at the very first vote in her entire time in office – she voted against women and Choice. She voted with this RTL County Executive to deny women safe access to reproductive health centers. (This opponent, Bernice Spreckman, does whatever the County Executive wants – maybe that’s because her son works for him!)
And a special thank you also goes out to Stavros Pantelis who is running in District 11 against a dishonest self-serving politician. Pantelis’ opponent used Choice Matters’ past endorsements to run unchallenged for years. But at the very first vote in his entire time in office, this opponent, Jim Maisano, voted against women and Choice. He voted in lock-step with this RTL County Executive to deny women the most basic of rights – safe access to health care.
• District 1
Peekskill, Buchanan, parts of Yorktown and Cortlandt
DUANE M JACKSON (D,W)
• District 2
Mt. Kisco, Bedford, North Salem, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge and part of Somers
PETER HARCKHAM (D,I,W)
• District 4
New Castle and parts of Yorktown, and Somers
MICHAEL KAPLOWITZ (D,I)
Kaplowitz’s opponent was endorsed by the Right to Life 9th Judicial District Committee and opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest or to save the woman’s life.
• District 5
Scarsdale, parts of White Plains and Harrison
BENJAMIN II BOYKIN (D,W,I)
• District 6
Rye Brook, Port Chester, and parts of Harrison and Rye Town
MARK JAFFE (D,W,I)
• District 7
Rye City, Mamaroneck Town, Larchmont, and parts of Harrison, the Village of Mamaroneck, New Rochelle and Rye Town
CATHERINE PARKER (D)
• District 8
Elmsford, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown and parts of White Plains, Greenburgh and Mt. Pleasant
ALFREDA WILLIAMS (D,W,I)
• District 9
Croton, Town and Village of Ossining, parts of Briarcliff Manor and Cortlandt
CATHERINE A. BORGIA (D,W,I)
• District 10
Tuckahoe and parts of New Rochelle and Eastchester
MARY JO JACOBS (D,W)
Jacobs’ opponent was endorsed by the Right to Life 9th Judicial District Committee and opposes abortion even in cases of rape, incest or to save the woman’s life.
• District 11
Pelham, Pelham Manor and parts of New Rochelle
STAVROS G PANTELIS (D)
• District 12
Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Irvington & parts of the Unincorporated Town of Greenburgh
MARYJANE SHIMSKY (D,W,I)
• District 13
Parts of Mt. Vernon
LYNDON WILLIAMS (D,W)
• District 14
Parts of Yonkers and Mt. Vernon
RACHELLE ROCKY RICHARD (D,W)
• District 15
Bronxville and parts of Yonkers and Eastchester
DELFIM HEUSLER (W)
• District 16
Parts of Yonkers
KEN JENKINS (D,W,I)
JUDGES: To grasp the very important role that a judge’s personal view on abortion rights has in the court room, you simply need to read, RH Reality Check’s article Her fetus has a court-appointed lawyer
Supreme Court Justice in the 9th Judicial District which encompasses
Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Dutchess, and Orange Counties:
(You can vote for five candidates.)
JANET C. MALONE (D)
JOHN P. COLANGELO (D,C,W,I)
MARIA S. VAZQUEZ-DOLES (D,W,I)
VICTOR G. GROSSMAN (D,C,W)
ALEXANDER EISEMANN (D)
CHRISTIE DERRICO (R)
For County Court Judge:
DAVID F. EVERETT (D,W,I)
For Family Court Judge:
KATHIE E DAVIDSON (D,R,C,W,I)*
For Cortlandt Town Justice:
SHARI GORDON (D,W)