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2015 SUPREME COURT INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL SCREENING PANEL

July 2, 2015

            The New York County Democratic Committee has announced the formation of an Independent Screening Panel to report on candidates for the nomination of the Democratic Party for one incumbent and four vacancies on the New York State Supreme Court, 1^st Judicial District (New York County), which will be filled in the November general election.  The heads of numerous bar associations, community organizations and law schools have been invited to nominate members of the panel. The panel will be directed to report a total of no more than the twelve most highly qualified candidates for the four vacancies and review whether the incumbent’s service merits continuation.

Candidates for the Court may obtain applications from the administrator of the panel, Mr. Charles E. Williams, III, Esq., via email at cwilliams@pecklaw.com beginning July 6, 2015 at 10AM.  Questions concerning this year’s panel should be directed via email to the panel administrator or the New York County Democratic Committee office at (212) 687-6540.

The deadline for submitting completed applications is July 14, 2015, 4PM.

Please join County Leader Keith L. T. Wright and New York County Democratic Committee for a Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, November 19th from 6PM to 8PM at Chelsea SVA Gallery.

Tickets are $80. District Leaders are free, and Club Members and State Committee Members enjoy a discounted rate of $35.  To purchase tickets please visit: http://bit.ly/ZM3077 or email us at manhattandems@gmail.com for a mail-in donation form. 

Please join County Leader Keith L. T. Wright and New York County Democratic Committee for a Cocktail Reception on Monday, August 25th from 6PM to 8PM.

Tickets are $125. District Leaders are free, and Club Members enjoy a discounted rate of $30.

The New York County Democratic Committee has announced the formation of an Independent Judicial Screening Panel to report on candidates for nomination by the Democratic Party for one (1) New York County Supreme Court vacancy, which will be filled in the November 4, 2014 general election. The heads of numerous bar associations, community organizations and law schools have been invited to nominate members of the panel, which will be directed to report a total of no more than three of the most highly qualified candidates for the Supreme Court vacancy.

Candidates for the Supreme Court may request an application from the Judiciary Committee of the New York County Democratic Committee, ‎via email at manhattandems@gmail.com. Completed applications must be received at the office of the New York County Democratic Committee, located at 108 W. 39th Street, Suite 1201, New York, New York 10018, no sooner and no later than July 18, 2014 between the hours of 8am and 2pm. Questions concerning this year’s panel should be directed to Ms. Cathleen McCadden, Interim Executive Director of the New York County Democratic Committee, at (212) 687-6540.

Please join us for our signature event, Monday July 14th at 7PM at the Apollo Theater.

Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster or via email at thedemmys@gmail.com.

The New York County Democratic Committee is proud to announce our endorsements for the upcoming election.

We enthusiastically support Arlene Bluth for re-election.

We have endorsed Louis Nock for civil court judgeship.

We feel that both candidates are the correct choice for their respective positions. We offer our full support and look forward to seeing them elected in November.

We would like to thank Vice-Chair of the County Executive Committee Louise Dankburg, District Leader Steven Smollens and President of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club Mark Thompson for co-hosting last night’s meeting.

In New York state, the primary election for state and local representatives is always held the second Tuesday of September, right after Labor Day and the start of the new school year. If you blink you could miss it, and many New Yorkers do.

In 2010, New York ranked last in the nation for voter turnout, with only 32 percent of the 13.4 million eligible voters actually exercising their constitutional right. New York City’s turnout last year hit a record low, with barely 22 percent of registered Democrats, and 12 percent of registered Republicans.

The situation is similar across the state. Take for example, Rochester, where the new mayor won by a margin of 5,000 votes, with only 23 percent voter turnout.

There are many reasons why people don’t make it to the polls, but there is something the state can do to make voting more convenient and cost effective: consolidate all primary elections into a single June date. It’s a simple solution to increase voter engagement and save the taxpayers money.

Currently, New Yorkers vote in as many as five elections a year: there are local elections for towns and villages in March, school board in May, federal elections in June, then again in September for state primaries, and finally in November for the general election.

Elections are expensive. It costs millions of dollars to keep the polls open, maintain the machines, and make sure every vote is counted. The bill can really add up in the event of a recount, which can drag on for weeks.

So why should New Yorkers continue to foot the bill? If we consolidate our elections into a single primary it would save the taxpayers an estimated $50 million.

A June primary would also increase public engagement by giving voters an immediate opportunity to hold their representatives accountable. The state legislative calendar runs from January to late June, at which point lawmakers return home to focus on matters in their districts.

By streamlining the primary date, legislative business would be fresh in voters’ minds, and there would be no confusion about when the election is being held. Not to mention it would give candidates a better opportunity to make their case to voters, who typically tune out during the summer months and only re-engage two weeks before the September primary.

There is another reason to move the primary to June. Members of the military serving overseas are currently disenfranchised from state elections by the short turnaround between the deadline for mailing in their ballots and Election Day. We don’t even give the women and men who keep us safe a voice in the democratic process. That has to change.

Voting should be accessible, easy and efficient. A single June primary is an important first step to counteract voter fatigue and kick the democratic process back into high gear.

Although opponents may argue that it’s not in the public interest for elected officials to campaign during the legislative session, the long and short-term benefits of a more transparent and user-friendly process is ultimately paramount.

What matters most is to empower every New Yorker to participate in good, open government, and participation begins at the polls.

Every New Yorker who is concerned about the waste of taxpayer dollars and who wants to ensure that they are fully exercising their right to vote should contact their state and local representatives to voice their support for a June primary.

*This Op-Ed, written by County Leader Keith L.T Wright and Susan Lerner, appeared on timesunion.com today, January 30th, 2014.  Susan Lerner is executive director of Common Cause NY. Keith L.T. Wright is a state assemblyman who represents Harlem and serves as the co-chair of the state Democratic Party.