May 2018 Membership Meeting

The May 2018 Membership Meeting Focused on NYS and Judicial Endorsements

May 2018 Membership Meeting Minutes

Erik Coler congratulated everyone for the great job done on the Candidates Forum on Monday.

After reviewing the endorsement rules, Erik Coler, President, asked for a motion to allow the Executive Committee to endorse for the AG position in the fall. It was asked and approved.  The May 2018 Membership Meeting then went on to the business at hand.

Frank Nervo, former VID member and President, made his presentation for the 1st Judicial District. He was endorsed, 38 votes to 2 no endorses.

Comptroller Tom Dinapoli was endorsed 35 to 2 no endorses. He had spoken previously at the Forum, and was not present.

Liz Krueger, candidate for the 28th District State Senate seat, was not present but was endorsed 36 to 3 no endorses.

For the 2nd Judicial District, three candidates were present, Wendy Li, Rob Rosenthal, and Grace Park*, but Grace withdrew to run in the County-wide race, deferring to Rosenthal. Rosenthal eventually won, with 25 for, 14 no endorses and one recusal.

The field for County-wide Civil Court was large, with seven candidates. The winners were Grace Park, with 26 votes and Shah Ally, with 28 votes. Elissa Kates and Nicholas Moynes took themselves out of the running. The rest were: Eric Gray, with 11 votes, Elsa Hampton, with 5 votes, and Ariel Chessler with 7 votes.

Now it was time for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor positions. The candidates (except for Cuomo) had appeared at the Forum, so they did not present again. Cynthia Nixon got the Governor endorsement, with 20 for and 15 no endorsements. Cuomo got 3 votes. For LG, Kathy Hochul got it with 20 for and 4 no endorses. Jumaane Williams got 4 votes.

This meeting also covered results from the April fund raiser:  Lois Rakoff and Nadine Hoffmann spoke for the Gala Committee. The Gala was a huge success, with Nadine’s speech for Ravi Ragbir the highlight. Nadine thanked everyone and said she was still playing it back in her head! Tony said the Gala made $26,000 and everyone was paid up 100%, which was unusual.

Erik next read Laurie Hardjowirogo’s Voter Reform Committee Report. (Laurie wasn’t present.) Five thousand GOTV postcards were mailed and phone banks were activated to help the IDC challengers. Their next meeting is Saturday.

Deb Sherman and Allison Stowell now spoke about the Gun Reform Committee, citing the Youth Over Guns march on June 2. Their top priority is passing the Extreme Risk Protection Order, with the help of Brian Kavanaugh. In order to put more pressure on the Governor, they would like to distribute 3,000 postcards in defense of the bill, to pass out at the march. Ed Yutkowitz will be writing a Times editorial on the bill and gun safety.

For the Campaign Committee, Tony Hoffmann announced there would be a joint meeting of this committee and the Voter Reform Committee at the clubhouse on Saturday. Petitioning starts June 5, and he welcomed people to the Petitioning Breakfast, with free bagels and cream cheese.

At a Special May 29th Meeting there were revised Judicial endorsements as well as a required endorsement for Keen Berger for Female District Leader for the 66th Assembly District.

Due to a glitch, the position of Female District Leader for District 66 Part A was left vacant, so Keen Berger was nominated and seconded. She delivered a short speech in which she mentioned her three points of interest: education, immigration, and elections. After this, she was elected by the Secretary casting one unanimous ballot, after a vote.

After this, Tony Hoffmann nominated David Siffert as Judicial Delegate because one of the elected delegates could not serve. After discussion, he was seconded and elected when the Secretary cast one unanimous ballot

Because Grace Park* had dropped out of the running for the judgeship, Ariel Chesler was proposed instead, and after discussion was elected by the Secretary casting one unanimous ballot.

President Erik Coler proposed an amendment to the agenda to include Alison Greenberg’s “Xenophobia Resolution“. This passed unanimously. Alison Greenberg read her revised Resolution, which passed unanimously. It will be sent to local clubs and editorial columns.

Full Special Meeting Minutes HERE