Ron Tocci

The incumbent, 52 year old Assemblyman Ron Tocci, is positioning himself as a senior statesman having served eighteen years in the Assembly and, before that, seventeen years in the Westchester County Legislature. No matter who wins the Democratic Primary, Tocci will be on the ballot for the November election on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Working Families Party lines. Mr. Tocci views his multiple party endorsements as evidence of his greatest strength, which he describes as, “Being able to get along with everybody, even people who have different views.” In an interview with the Gazette on . he said, “Working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the Assembly has inured to the benefit of some of my successes.”

Despite the Republican endorsement, Tocci views himself as a life-long Democrat from a long line of Democrats. Among the Democratic establishment in the 10538 area, he has garnered support from Albany colleague Suzi Oppenheimer who appears in many of his campaign brochures and letters. According to Tocci, his grandfather was the founder of the Democratic Party in New Rochelle and his Uncle Sal was a popular County Legislator in the 1940’s. Currently Tocci’s brother Anthony serves as his honorary campaign chairman and his daughter Cara answers phones at his New Rochelle campaign headquarter. (See 6/26 Tocci re GOP endorsing him)

PRIORITIES: When asked about his most important priorities for a future Assembly term, he listed education as foremost. Since joining the Assembly, he has served on the Education Committee and is proud of the way he has worked with the schools to bring in additional state funding. One of his Assembly mailers states, Assemblyman Tocci helped secure $934, 219 more than the governor’s proposal for the Mamaroneck School District.”

Another issue Mr. Tocci considers “pivotal” concerns the now abandoned IKEA project in New Rochelle and how to deal with similar projects in the future. Tocci views the IKEA project as a major difference between him and his opponent and is critical of the role played by Mr. Bramson. In a recent flyer, Tocci wrote, “I fought the development of the IKEA store and corporate welfare.” Another flyer said, “There is only one candidate who publicly opposed the IKEA development and that candidate is Ron Tocci.”( See 8/07 Tocci blasts Bramson on environment )

For the future, Assemblyman Tocci is collaborating with Senator Oppenheimer on legislation to alleviate “border wars.” Their proposed bill would require neighboring communities to hold informational hearings on master plans for development. It is very difficult to override local home rule,” said Tocci, “But we can at least mandate that neighbors talk to each other.”

Mr. Tocci’s third priority for the future is the environment, particularly open space preservation and clean water. His mailings also discuss support for I-95 noise barriers, and diamond-grinding to make the road quieter. Throughout his Assembly career he has served on the Environmental Conservation Committee and is now Chairman of the Harbor and Coastal Zone Sub-Committee. “Pollution in the Sound is absolutely paramount,” he said. At this point, Tocci believes sewage is no longer the major problem and is turning attention to polluted run-off. He mentioned a new technology he hopes to pursue that involves treating run-off with ultra violet gamma rays as the water moves through the sewer pipes. The New York League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Mr. Tocci and refers to him as “an established environmental leader.” (See 8/07 Tocci endorsed on environment)

In addition to these priorities, Tocci describes himself as "passionate" on veterans' issues which he monitors as chairman of the Assembly Commitee on Veterans' affairs.(See Two NYC Disabled Vets for Tocci )

Noam Bramson

Rochelle Councilman Noam Bramson, has positioned himself as the ‘new energy” needed in the New York Assembly to make progress on educational, environmental, health and other issues critical to the Sound Shore communities. In 1992, fresh out of Harvard where he earned both a bachelor and master’s degree, Bramson joined Congresswoman Nita Lowey as a campaign manager and speech writer. In 1995, at age 22 he won his first elected position and became the youngest council member in New Rochelle’s history.

Born and raised in New Rochelle, Mr. Bramson is newly married to pediatric neuropsychologist Catie Stern. At this point, Bramson has stepped away from his work with Nita Lowey to run for the Assembly, though he retains his seat on the New Rochelle Council. Should Bramson prevail in the Democratic primary, he earns the right to a second match with Tocci in the November general election. Should Bramson lose, he’ll be back in his Council seat, at least until his term expires in 2003.

When pushed to name his greatest strength, Bramson mentioned his “tremendous energy and enthusiasm” said, “I have good professional and academic background in public policy.” Through his work with Nita Lowey’s office and the New Rochelle City Council, Bramson has worked on issues of biomedical research, school modernization, environment protection, family planning, economic development, delivery of educational services, land use and urban planning.

PRIORITIES: Mr. Bramson’s topmost priority for the future focuses on education. For 10538. he hopes to secure “Our fair share of school aid from Albany and reduce unfunded mandates so that we can hold down local property taxes.” On a larger scale, he is concerned about expanding and modernizing schools and addressing the looming shortage of qualified teachers.

Another top Bramson concern is health care, including making quality health care affordable, protecting women’s reproductive rights, and supporting biomedical research. While he lauds state insurance programs, his aim would be to streamline the process and step up enrollment so that “every child eligible for insurance actually receives it.” He considers himself “100% Pro-Choice” and has been endorsed by the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion (See 9/04 Pro-choice leaders denounce Tocci )

A third major priority for Bramson is the environment, including water, open space and quality of life issues such as airplane noise. “Larchmont has a powerful connection to the Long Island,” he noted and added, “People in Larchmont also have a keen understanding of the importance of inter-municipal cooperation and regional planning.” As an example, he cited his involvement in an expanded hiking trail system for the area that is being planned via a collaboration of local governments, including the Town of Mamaroneck. (See Nancy Seligson: Support Hiking Trails.) Dealing with airplane noise will also require collaboration between local municipalities and federal authorities, he explained. On the other hand, he believes local taxes should be controlled by local governments and is critical of the role played by Mr. Tocci and the State Assembly in maintaining a cap on New Rochelle property taxes.

The Democratic establishment in the 10538 area has thrown its support behind Mr. Bramson whose campaign headquarters is in the Village of Larachmont, over the East Avenue Café. Congresswoman Nita Lowey’s photograph appears in most of the Bramson campaign brochures, and all Democratic Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont board members have endorsed his candidacy along with the leadership of the Town and Village Democratic Parties. (See 7/16 New Roch Dem Party for Bramson and 7/11 Mamk Dem Party for Bramson)

The Campaign: As the challenger, Noam Bramson has run a campaign critical of his opponent on a series of issues including: reproductive rights, gun control, hate crimes and civil rights. In addition, he has been highly critical of his opponent’s acceptance of the Republican Party endorsement and of his use of state assembly mailing.

As the incumbent Ron Tocci has defended his mailers as following all state regulations and his voting record as being in line with the Democratic position, with few exceptions. Tocci has accused his opponent of distorting the record and has criticized Bramson’s past positions on IKEA and Davids Island. Bramson, in turn, has stated that he opposed IKEA following the draft environmental impact process and supports a Westchester County park on Davids Island.

All summer, the two campaigns have been trading critical press releases. In the waning days of the campaign, there has been a flurry of campaign mailing, mostly showing the candidate in the most positive light. Both sides have also engaged in "negative campaigning" with Bramson accusing Tocci of "turning his back" on Democrats and meddling with a woman's right to choose, and Tocci blasting Bramson on IKEA.

The campaigns are also mounting dueling lists of endorsements from local politicians and political groups. Tocci has won support from United State Senator Chuck Schumer, New York State Attorney Eliot Spitzer, State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer and leaders in Rye and Port Chester. Bramson's got United States Congresswoman Nita Lowey, New Rochelle Mayor Tom Idoni and all the Democratic members of the New Rochelle City Council and the boards in the Town of Mamaroneck and Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck. The League of Conservation Voters supports Tocci, the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion is backing Bramson.

The heavy-hitters have revealed their choice. Now it's up to the Democratic voters on September 10.