Positioning for Power

Putnam politics is never placid: Former Southeast Town Judge James Borkowski, who three weeks ago announced his intention to run for the state senate seat being vacated by Senator Vincent Leibell, has had a change of heart

The man who narrowly lost a Republican primary to Sheriff Donald Smith last fall will now seek the 99th District Assembly seat. That seat is being vacated by Republican Greg Ball, who is running for Leibell’s 40th district senate seat.

Borkowski joins a crowded GOP field in the assembly race including Putnam Legislator Mary Ellen Odell of Carmel and two residents of Yorktown--Nick Bianco and veterinarian Dr. Stephen Katz.

Odell confirmed to the Courier on Wednesday that she was running for the 99th Assembly seat, though she has made no formal announcement. “I am throwing my hat in the ring, [but] out of respect for the Republican party, I am waiting on the formal nod.” The Republican committee leaders in the 99th district will be meeting next Monday in Mahopac to select their preferred candidate.

Odell told the Courier that if she is not selected, she will not force a primary and will instead seek reelection to her District Five legislature seat. She is currently being challenged in that race by Carmel resident Carl Albano, son of the late pro-wrestler Captain Lou Albano.

Borkowski’s shift is not the first in what is turning out to be an intriguing election cycle. Last fall, Assembleyman Ball discontinued his campaign to unseat Democratic Congressman John Hall and announced he was running for Leibell’s seat. At the time, it was unclear whether Leibell would seek reelection or run for Putnam County executive.

Senator Leibell announced April 18 that he would seek Putnam’s top post, whether or not incumbent county executive Robert Bondi chooses to run again. On April 21, Borkowski, who had said he would not challenge Leibell, announced he would run against Ball for Leibell’s seat. Hours later, Somers Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy said she would join the race as well—a surprise to many observers who had expected her to seek the 99th district assembly seat.

On the Democratic side, Westchester Legislator Mike Kaplowitz of Somers is also running for Leibell’s senate seat. Kaplowitz was unsuccessful in his bid to unseat Leibell in a bitter 2006 campaign. He did not challenge Leibell in 2008, instead defeating Republican Terrence Murphy in 2007 to win election as a Westchester county legislator.

Borkowski, the former legislative counsel to former Assemblyman Willis Stephens, served as town justice in the greater Brewster area for more than a decade. He told the COURIeR Wednesday afternoon “New York State is in crisis and the stakes cannot be higher. My participating in a three-way GOP Primary for senate would only damage Republican chances of retaking the State Senate and getting the Empire State back on track. For the good of the NYS Republican party I have decided not to run for senate but instead to seek the 99th District Assembly seat.”

That race, of course, looks like it will be a four-way Republican battle.

Borkowski has been affiliated with other parties. Though he failed to obtain the Republican line when he ran for Sheriff, he did win the support of the Working Family party—an unusual association for a Republican given the party’s affiliation with ACORN, a controversial leftwing organization.

I have said ‘no’ to party

leaders who warned me

not to buck the system.

JIM BORKOWSKI

Southeast GOP Chairman James DiBella has thrown his support behind Borkowski: “Jim is the most qualified and most dynamic candidate we as Republicans could ask for. I support him 110 percent.”

However, Putnam’s GOP Chairman Anthony Scannapieco wasn’t as impressed: “Who knows—perhaps next week Mr. Borkowski will announce his candidacy for county executive!”

Odell agreed. “Jim Borkowski clearly wants to hold public office,” she said. “Obviously, this year he couldn’t make up his mind what he wants to do.” Odell suggested that instead of seeking political office, Borkowski instead start his own reality TV show, the “Real Candidates of Putnam County,” in which he can run for multiple offices.

Emphasizing that she is a fiscal conservative and working mother with a good deal of public policy experience, Odell said, “For 20 years I’ve given my heart and soul to this community. It is time for experienced leaders, not just someone who is looking for a job.”

She said Borkowski claims to have an “innate drive to serve the public, but where has he volunteered, where has he served? Is it public service when there’s a paycheck attached to it? Is that what makes it attractive?”

With Borkowski out of the state senate race, some think that Mary Beth Murphy will have a better shot of defeating Ball in a GOP primary. For this reason, Odell said she is suspicious of Borkowski’s announcement. “This is about they don’t want Greg Ball in the Senate. It’s not about me,” she said, noting that many of those in power dislike Ball. She added, “What’s the worst kind of politician? Someone who says something that might be offensive and abrasive, but who says it to your face, with honesty, or someone who tells you what you want to hear and then goes off and does what he wants to do anyway?”

Ball, Borkowski’s erstwhile opponent, said, “This most recent move [by Borkowski], after dozens of variations, is an indication that he is being used as a pawn by the power brokers in Albany.”

As for the state senate race, Ball said he looks “forward to an intense Republican primary and an issuesoriented campaign. I look forward to a grassroots victory this fall.” Ball

But Borkowski called himself “fiercely independent” and owing nothing to anybody. Borkowski said he was his “own man. I have said ‘no’ to party leaders who warned me not to buck the system. As a judge and attorney, I have 23 years of experience working in an adversarial environment and achieving results with both allies and adversaries. I have the maturity, temperament and experience to control spending and bring back fiscal sanity to New York.”

The 99th Assembly District encompasses the towns of Carmel, Southeast and Patterson as well as Pawling, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown.

The Republican convention to select an assembly candidate is planned for Monday evening at the Mahopac Fire Department. Scannapieco said the GOP convention to select a candidate for the 40th District State Senate seat will take place on Wednesday at the Mahopac Italian-American Club followed on May 25 with the GOP convention for the 19th District Congressional race that will be held at the Villa Barone in Mahopac.

County candidates will be endorsed at the fourth convention May 27 at the Italian-American Club in Mahopac.