Republicans are expected to join forces with several Democrats to form a coalition majority and take over leadership of the Westchester County Board of Legislators for the 2014-2015 legislative season.
A coalition of Republicans and Democrats announced a press conference for tomorrow morning at which plans for leadership will be outlined. County insiders expect the power-sharing agreement will see Democrat Michael Kaplowitz become the new chairman of the board.
Kaplowitz, a 16-year incumbent whose district encompasses Yorktown, and Yonkers Democrat Virginia Perez previously broke with their party”™s caucus and voted with Republicans on the 2013 budget, a move that drew criticisms from within their party and saw Perez face two party primary challenges in this year”™s election.
It isn”™t clear if other Democrats will join the coalition leadership. All 15 incumbents who sought re-election won in their November races. Two Democrats, Rye”™s Catherine Parker and White Plains”™ Benjamin Boykin II, are set to be sworn in as new members of the board in January, replacing legislators Judy Myers and William Ryan, respectively. Both outgoing incumbents decided not to seek re-election this year.
The shift in power marks a dramatic change on the 17-member board, which just three years ago was controlled by Democrats in a 12-seat, veto-proof supermajority. Republicans made up some ground in the 2011 elections, picking up several seats to make their total minority seven members.
With the shift in board power, Republican Jim Maisano can be named vice chair or head a new majority. Maisano has been in office since 1998 and is the current minority leader. Democrat Peter Harckham, the current majority leader, announced at the board”™s last meeting of the year on Monday that he would not seek to continue as majority leader.
