The Sidewalks of White Plains

The Backrooms of White Plains:

Republicans rethink ticket considering Democrats who are running.

Bill Waterman, former councilman, GOP "insider" reports Republicans strengthening ticket in light of perceived weak Democratic council candidates.

Bob Tuck, once considered, now reported "out;" Tim Sheehan still flirting.

Will Mike Amodio, previously a Council also-ran still be given another chance?

Republicans mull mystery candidate for County Legislator to put pressure on Ryan.

By John F. Bailey, Interview with Bill Waterman

CityLine: April 24, 2001--WPCNR NEWSLINES

The Republicans are licking their chops at the Democratic slate, according to William Waterman, Jr., former White Plains City Councilman and longtime political observer.

Called for his reaction to the Democratic showdown over who was going to run for Mayor against Joseph Delfino, Mr. Waterman said "I'm not surprised that Ryan didn't get it."

However, Waterman expressed his opinion that the Democratic Council slate of Rita Malmud, Glen Hockley and Tom Roach was imminently beatable.

"Malmud has done nothing in twelve years, while the other two (Hockley and Roach) have done nothing other than attend Rotary Meetings," Waterman said dryly Sunday night.

Waterman also said the Republicans have not made a decision and that "more people were coming in to be interviewed," including Tim Sheehan, the outspoken advocate of New York Presbyterian Hospital Plan A last July. He said Mike Amodio, a city-based attorney, and Bob Tuck had been previously front runners. (However, Mr Tuck apparently as lost favor in light of the Democratic decisions of last week.)

Waterman said he was astonished that the Democrats had not nominated Candyce Corcoran, whom he described as a "tremendous opponent, and a person I think would have brought an agenda and an energy, difficult to run against."

Waterman said, "If I were a member of the Republican Nominating Committee, I'd give Ms. Corcoran a call and consider running her for County Legislator (against Ryan)."

Asked about Joe Holland (of Yonkers) flirting with running against County Executive Spano, Waterman said "I don't know what's going on there." He said Holland originally appeared to be a strong candidate but has apparently lost favor and momentum.

He reserved his most skepticism for Democratic Mayoral Nominee Robert Greer.

He said he found Greer's comments that he voted for the road improvements that made The Westchester possible interesting because "in 1990, he was against building The Westchester."

The former Councilman found it interesting that the labor unions had been let down by the Democratic Party for a third time, and specifically, Mr. Greer, charging that Greer had run with police and fire union support in 1999, yet recently had refused to fund a study on splitting the police and fire departments "because it's running fine now."

Waterman continued to muse on a possible Candyce Corcoran candidacy. He said that Ms. Corcoran had originally wanted to be a Republican, but had not been called back by the Republican Chairman at the time (Mike Coffey), she was seeking to join the party.

"She literally got screwed," he said, of the Democratic Committee decision last week to reject Corcoran's council challenge. "Two of the council candidates who were nominated (Hockley and Roach) didn't deserve it."