In what some are calling a surprising upset, county Legislator Clinton Young appeared to have defeated incumbent three-term Mayor Ernest Davis in a Democratic primary for mayor of Mount Vernon as of press time last week.
With 88 percent of the precincts reporting, Young led Davis by a tally of 3,502 to 3,267.
All election results are unofficial pending routine rencanvassing and the counting of absentee ballots.
Among other tissues, Young has said the city has been mismanaged during the Davis administration, citing the city”™s Section VII program being taken over by the state and the revelation that the Urban Renewal Agency owed $1.2 million in premiums to the state”™s health insurance program for its employees.
Davis had campaigned on the development he had brought to Mount Vernon, including several big-box stores on Sandford Boulevard and several new housing projects.
Davis had solicited three proposals from area developers to remake the city”™s downtown near the Mount Vernon East Metro-North train station.
The plans included a hotel, and residential, retail and commercial space. It is unclear whether these plans will be pursued or modified if the numbers hold up and Davis does not return to office.
Should Young maintain his lead, he will face Republican Janet Whitney Snyder in the general election in November.
In Yonkers, Mayor Phil Amicone easily defeated former City Council President Vincenza Restiano in a Republican primary with nearly 70 percent of the vote.
Incumbent Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner defeated challenger Suzanne Berger in a Democratic primary. Feiner received 3,916 votes to Berger”™s 1,952 with 91 percent of precincts reporting.
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