Two Past-presidents of the League of Women Voters Join Bramson to Criticize Tocci Mailings

( August 14, 2002) The latest skirmish in the Bramson-Tocci battle has the two candidates jousting over political mailings. Two past-presidents of local Leagues of Women Voters have entered the fray to criticize Tocci for the timing, frequency, distribution and look of his brochures mailed from the Assembly.

The candidates, who are facing-off in the September 10th Democratic primary, disagree on most facts in the mailing dispute.

According to Bramson, “During the last few weeks, Tocci has sent out four brochures from his Assembly office, all paid for by the state government. Newsletters from elected officials are nothing unusual, but the timing and distribution of Tocci’s mailings have raised the eyebrows of citizens and political observers. The mailings were sent only to Democrats in the newly drawn 91st Assembly District, leaving out tens of thousands of Tocci’s constituents.”

Replied Tocci, “This is typical campaign rhetoric. When you don’t have any issues you complain about your opponent’s mailings.” According to Tocci, the mailings follow all the relevant regulations and are sent from a separate Albany office not under his control. He vehemently denied targeting one political party and said it was typical for constituents to receive mailers in July at the end of a legislative session, whether or not there is a primary election.

Robert Carreau, Tocci campaign manager, explained that brochures might have been targeted towards specific audiences based on constituents’ interests in particular issues, but not on their party affiliation. According to Carreau, State Assembly material may not be sent out within thirty days of an election, but there is no requirement to send the same literature to all constituents.

For example, said Tocci, “Pieces applicable to veterans go to veterans. People who share concerns about gun control receive those pieces. We only have so much money to spend.”

Louise Perez, immediate past president of the Larchmont/Mamaroneck League of Women Voters, criticized this selective approach to mailings and asked, “If he is targeting constituent groups with specific interest brochures, for example his record on gun legislation, women's right to choose or education issues, why not send the same brochure to everyone in the district for all to see where he stands?”

She also questioned his timing. “Assemblyman Tocci’s sending out five taxpayer-funded brochures in the space of a few weeks when he normally sends out only one or two brochures in a year clearly indicates that he has his eye on the upcoming Democratic primary and November election. New York does not have public financing of political campaigns and it is unconscionable that an elected official would use the public monies to further his own campaign,” said Perez. She called on Tocci to “reimburse the taxpayers for the monies spent on his recent politically motivated mailings.”

Hillary Brizell-Delise, a past president of the New Rochelle League of Women Voters, concurred and said, “Because the mailings look so much like campaign flyers -- complete with slogans, photos and self-promotional content – most recipients probably don’t even realize that they are publicly funded.“

In an August 7 press release from the Bramson campaign, Perez and Brizel-Delise are identified as past-presidents of their local Leagues who are calling for Tocci “to reimburse the taxpayers for the full cost of his recent letters.”

“These two individuals have chosen to discredit the reputation of the League of Women Voters,” responded Tocci angrily. The League bills itself as a non-partisan organization and, according to its website, “does not endorse candidates or support political parties.” “The former officers using their titles gives the perception that the League is against me and for my opponent.” Tocci has complained to the New Rochelle League of Women Voters.

“ A past-president should not identify herself that way, “ confirmed Ina Aronow, Communications Director of the County League of Women Voters. “But you can’t stop someone else from identifying her that way. It’s public information,“ she added.

The Larchmont/Mamaroneck and New Rochelle Leagues of Women Voters are collaborating to provide voter information for the September 10 Democratic Primary elections and have taped interviews with Bramson and Tocci that are airing in both communities over public access television. A debate between the two men is tentatively scheduled for September 3 at New Rochelle City Hall, however the timing is still being worked out.

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