The Spanoistas: It’s All in the Family
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- June
- 10
An interesting thing happened after Westchester County Executive Andy Spano swiped the county’s Conservative Party endorsement out from under the nose of Republican challenger Rob Astorino, who is the true conservative in the 2009 race.
On Monday night, the county Board of Legislators approved by 14-0 the appointment of former County Clerk Len Spano to the county’s ethics board. (Two legislators—George Oros, R-Cortlandt and Tom Abinanti, D-Greenburgh, were not present for the vote.)
This is interesting because Len Spano is the grand old patriarch of the Republican Spano family—a huge clan of politicos and patronage beneficiaries. However, it’s a stretch to call them Republicans anymore since the two highest profile members of the family, former State Sen. Nick Spano, now a lobbyist, and his brother, Yonkers Assemblyman Mike Spano have aligned themselves with the dominant Democratic Party for purposes of self preservation.
In recent columns, I’ve pointed to a conspiracy theory on how Andy Spano, a liberal Democrat, who is no relation to the “other Spanos,” got the Conservative Party nomination. The word is that it started with his powerful former deputy Larry Schwartz who twisted Nick Spano’s arm, who in turn twisted the arm of Gail Burns, the Conservative Party chairwoman, who owes her job to Nick.
The quid pro quo works this way:
Schwartz ensures that his old boss, Andy, wins a fourth term. In exchange, he gets suburban support for his new boss, Gov. David Paterson, who is unpopular and has a very steep hill to climb in order to win election in November. Or, assuming Paterson is doomed, Schwartz has a job waiting for him back in Westchester.
For leaning on Burns, Spano gets lobbying business from the state and/or county not to mention future Democratic support for his kid brother, a newly minted Democrat, who has aspirations for Yonkers mayor and possibly county executive.
Who know what other favors may or may not be in the works.
But Andy Spano’s appointment of the retired Len Spano to the ethics board certainly looks suspicious. Should the father of Tricky Nicky Spano sit on such a panel?
And how will Len respond to any ethics complaint filed against Andy?
This is troublesome.
Andy Spano is no blood relation to the other Spanos, but he sure is related in spirit. That’s becoming more and more obvious.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 at 10:01 am by Phil Reisman.
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Phil Reisman is a veteran journalist and native of Westchester County. He began his career in 1977 as the head copy boy of a startup New York City newspaper that quickly went belly up. Reisman was not to blame for the newspaper's failure, or so he claims.
Westchester cannot afford four more years of Spano rule. They have to go.
And all the players snicker, make more and more money and assume more power while all of us Louie Lunchboxes try to figure out a way to pay all the escalating taxes and fees that keep their charade fed.
Is the Ethics Board a paid position – if not, I guess I’m confused by the big deal since Len Spano devoted over 30 years to helping the county residents. In regard to your apparent conspiracy theory – that seems a little outlandish dont you think?
It is an unpaid position…thanks for reminding me.
Alas, the theory is solid, based on the word of some good sources. I wish everthing in politics was decided on principles of merit, but anyone who thinks it is…well, I’ve got a bridge in Tarrytown I’m willing to sell them.
I’m not sure how the ethics appointment fits into the mutual back-scratching puzzle, if at all, but it should give everyone pause for the reasons I’ve already stated.
I really do appreciate your response but you don’t find it equally as odd that Astorino was just endorsed by the Independence Party (who usually endorses Democrats) when Andy got it in 2005 (hmmm, there’s some back-scratching)? I’m just saying that if you’re gonna report on something, might as well report on it all.
I find everything odd with the Indpendence Party, a sham outfit if ever there was one and I’ve said so many times in print. As for the Democrats usually getting the IP’s endorsement, I don’t think that’s an accurate statement…
It seems it’s often Republicans, who are outnumbered and desperate for any and all cross-party endorsements.
You are correct, however, that the IP endorsement comes with some kind of Faustian deal, but to compare Astorino with the high-level power brokering being done on behalf of Andy Spano, a three-term incumbent, hardly seems fair to me.
It would be interesting to know, however, how Spano and Cavallo may have had a falling out. Were they buddies and now they’re enemies?
Maybe you know?
While I am an avid fan of yours and read your column and blog often, I just felt the need to respond to this one because your blog definitely seemed to me that you just had an ax to grind with the “Spano’s”. I agree with you in regard to the IP Party being shady but each time I vote, I notice that the Dems also always hold their line. I don’t know either whatsoever so your guess would be as good as mine.
Thanks!
And, fair enough.
But really, no ax to grind..just “afflicting the comfortable” as they say.
You’re welcome.
Nice trees being identified and described, but we’re wandering naked through the forest. Our entire political class is making a mockery of efficient governance. And each day it deteriorates further. What adds insult to injury is that they have come to the point in the year 2009 where they answer this charge with the response, “So?”
I didn’t think it was possible Ed, but what’s happening in Albany makes Westchester politics seem downright utopian.