Throughout the past year, I have been approached by numerous people who have urged me to try to reclaim the Senate seat I held for 20 years. While I have not yet reached a decision, I do know that a Senate run is not possible without candid feedback from you.
This website will allow me to share my thoughts with you while collecting the opinions of the people who will ultimately help me to make this crucial decision.
As you know, I spent my entire adult life representing Westchester County in the State Capitol. I'm sure that it will come as no surprise that I miss the challenges of the State Legislature. I miss the competition, and I miss the fight! My passion is and always will be improving the quality of life for our children and families.
When Governor Eliot Spitzer and Andrea Stewart-Cousins ran in 2006, they ran on a platform that everything would change on "Day One." I have refrained from making any commentary about their performances thus far but now, I would like to hear from the citizens of our county. Do you think things have changed? Are we being well-represented in Albany? Should I consider a return to the Senate?
I know this is an unusual request but I am interested in your evaluation of Senator Cousins' performance and ability to deliver for the 35th Senate District. Please e-mail me at nick@nickspano.com
Welcome to Westchester County, the Deep South of New York State.
That's the message supporters of powerful Republican State Sen. Nick Spano gave to hundreds of black and Hispanic Westchester residents on Election Day with an ugly campaign of voter intimidation at several polling sites.
"For most of the day, it felt like I was in the South," said one Democratic Party lawyer.
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The worst example was seen at the Police Athletic League gymnasium on North Broadway in Yonkers, a largely minority neighborhood.
A large throng of Republican volunteers, many of them wearing Yonkers Fire Department shirts and union caps, gathered inside the polling place and repeatedly challenged the signatures of many of those coming in to vote, said Frank Streng, a White Plains attorney who visited the North Broadway site in the late afternoon as a Democratic Party legal monitor.
The widespread challenges led to long lines of angry black voters. Eventually, Streng convinced police and county election officials to show up and reduce the number of Republican poll-watchers. The law allows only three per election district.
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The leaders of this union of mostly black and Hispanic workers did everything they could to defeat a progressive black woman Democratic candidate in Westchester. They did so even as their Republican allies in that race were intimidating black voters.
