WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. From County Legislator Bill Ryan. May 16, 2005: Friday evening, Legislator Bill Ryan, long thought to be the front runner in the Democrat “Race” to run for Mayor of White Plains, issued a Question and Answer News Release on the topic of his political future, after WPCNR was first to report the White Plains Democratic Party Nominating Committee had not found a person to nominate to run against Joseph Delfino.

COUNTY LEGISLATOR BILL RYAN.

Photo WPCNR News Archive.

Here are Mr. Ryan’s comments in Question and Answer Format:

Q: Will you be seeking re-election to the County Board of Legislators?

Ryan: Yes, I’ll be seeking a fifth term on the Board.

Q: There was speculation that you might be the Democratic Candidate for Mayor in White Plains? What happened?

Ryan: Yes, I did look into the Mayor’s race. It was tempting to consider. The City is at a crossroads and it would be an exciting opportunity to lead it but I can’t walk away from the enormous countywide responsibilities that my colleagues entrusted me with and that I agreed to assume.

A year and a half ago, the legislators unanimously asked me to lead the Board and I agreed to do that. Today, in addition to being the County Legislator for White Plains and Scarsdale, I’m Chairman of the Board with countywide responsibilities.

I’m up to my eyeballs with the most serious issues that Westchester County has ever faced. After weighing all this, my job is here (on the County Board of Legislators), helping to further improve our County, not out in the street in an all time-consuming race for City Hall. I can’t walk away from the challenges facing the County.

Q. What are those challenges that you’re so heavily involved in?

Ryan: Obviously, saving the Medical Center is among the most pressing at the moment, along with ensuring a financial plan for Westchester that includes a balanced 2006 budget, stabilized property taxes and maintenance of the County’s Triple A rating. I’ve also been working on providing more affordable housing, especially for our growing senior population (our White Plains proposal, for example), as well as enhancing our very fine public safety and emergency response capabilities that I helped put into place.

Q. How much was your decision based on your poll?

Ryan: What poll? Okay, let’s say there was a poll. If I had a poll, my gut tells me it would say we’re running neck and neck. By all rights, I shouldn’t be running neck and neck with an eight-year incumbent (Joseph Delfino), who’s presiding over what he promotes as the renaissance of White Plains.

One would think he’d be way out in front. He’s not. In fact, he’s been running scared at the prospect that I’d be his opponent. He’s been all over the place, in front of every camera. He’s been showing up in more places in the past six months than in his entire term.

Those are not the actions of a front-runner who believes he has it locked up.

Honestly, you don’t need polls or my personal opinion. I think most people have a sense as to how this race would turn out.

Q. So, where does this leave the White Plains Democrats now?

Ryan: When I made my decision, I also looked at the challenges facing White Plains and the Democratic talent on the City Council and I saw a number of people who are eminently qualified to serve as Mayor. Let me emphasize, the Democrats have a tremendous pool of talent in the City and it’s not just limited to the Council.

Q: There are those who would like you to remain in County government and become the next County Executive. Would you run for County Executive?

Ryan: Not this year! Right now the only County Executive’s race I’m interested in is Andy Spano’s re-election. He’s a terrific County Executive and I’ll be working hard to get him four more years. We don’t always see eye-to-eye but we have a good, working relationship that produces positive results for Westchester. If down the road, people ask me to run for County Executive, well, I’d certainly consider it.

(Editor’s Note: A voter preference poll asking voter’s opinions on Mr. Ryan’s candidacy for Mayor if he were to oppose Joseph Delfino, and  Councilman Tom Roach’s candidacy for Mayor, as well as questions that sampled  voter opinions on the performance of Mayor Joseph Delfino was conducted some time  in the first three months of this year. WPCNR was interviewed in that poll. WPCNR has been able to gather sufficient information as to what political camp conducted and financed the poll.)