Politics & Government

Letter to the Editor: Will Parker Undermine Own Party's Clerk?

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To the editor,

If elected, Catherine Parker would cut funding for the Westchester County Clerk's office, according to her answers at the July 31 primary debate against Tom Murphy for the County 7th Legislative District seat. Democrat Tim Idoni runs the Clerk's office, putting Parker in the curious position of undermining an excellent public servant with whom she aspires to share the Democratic line in November.

Parker should have at least acknowledged Idoni's impressive record. The Clerk's budget is now 18 percent lower than when Idoni took office. During Idoni's tenure, online records searching has been made publicly available and documents can be downloaded for a modest fee. Idoni led the charge to change state law to allow electronic recording of documents—a change that will save millions—and has also stepped up enforcement against unlicensed plumbers and electricians preying on Westchester County homeowners.

Parker's criticisms of the Clerk's office will undoubtedly help Idoni's Republican challenger. Let's hope Parker—an unaffiliated voter seeking the Democratic nomination—is not a frenemy who will support some party incumbents but undermine others. Democrats must now question whether Parker will put her personal ambition ahead of party interests.

Suzanne McCrory
Friends of Tom Murphy
Mamaroneck


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