Maisano resigns, special election to replace him April 24

WHITE PLAINS – A special election will be held April 24 to replace a longtime Westchester County lawmaker who resigned this week.

The county Board of Legislators voted to set the date at a meeting Monday, one day after Republican Jim Maisano stepped down to take a job in the administration of County Executive George Latimer, a Democrat.

The election will be held the same day as a special election for a state Senate seat that was left empty Jan. 1, when Latimer resigned from the Senate to become county executive. Republican Julie Killian and Democrat Shelley Mayer are facing off for the Senate seat.

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Holding two elections on the same day would save the county money and also mean better turnout for a race in which not many voters are expected to participate, legislature Chairman Ben Boykin said.

County law required an election for Maisano’s former seat be held within 90 days of his resignation. Maisano, a New Rochelle resident, started his new job as director of the county Department of Consumer Protection Monday.

"It's been one of the biggest honors of my life to serve as a County Legislator," Maisano wrote in his resignation letter to County Clerk Tim Idoni.

The special election for District 11, comprising New Rochelle and Pelham, makes the seat a jump ball for the first time in years. Maisano had held the seat for two decades and in recent elections had won by wide margins if he faced formal opposition at all.

Although Maisano was a fixture in the district, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-to-1 there, according to county Board of Elections numbers. Democrats have a 12-4 majority on the 17-member legislature until Maisano's seat is filled.

The short campaign cycle means there will be no primary and party district leaders will choose their candidates at mini-conventions in the coming weeks.

County legislators serve two-year terms with a base salary of $49,200.

Follow Mark Lungariello on Facebook: @lungariello; and Twitter: @marklungariello.