WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. August 1, 2003: James Payne, believed by many party insiders to be on his way to being elected Chairman of the White Plains Democratic Party at last night's Democratic City Commitee meeting has rejected the position. A leading Democratic personality told WPCNR that "Mr. Payne has chosen to stand down for the good of the Democratic Party."

WPCNR's impeccable source said he was personally dissappointed that Payne had "stood down", but had no other comment. He said the Nominating Committee was going to entertain applications from other candidates and would make a recommendation of a new leader September 4.

Elizabeth Schollenberger and Robert Hoch had been named as two other candidates being considered for the position before Mr. Payne was recommended by Dennis Power, Acting Chair. Power himself chose not to continue on in that position after Assemblyman Adam Bradley announced that he, Bradley, would no longer serve as Chairperson.

No reason was given by Mr. Payne for his decision, other than "for the good of the party," from our source.

 Robert Greer and a leading Democratic "activist" had fully expected Mr. Payne to assume the Chair as late as Thursday afternoon. Mr. Payne was reported by a Journal News article two weeks ago to have not filed New York State and New York City tax returns on time for three years in the mid-80s. Payne was considered favorable to Mr. Bradley, and a source of the tax return story has not been named.