Cunningham off Peekskill Democratic Ticket

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. - One of two recently-announced Democratic city council candidates has withdrawn from the race due to his county government position.

Lawrence Cunningham has worked for Westchester County for 20 years, the last 13 years of which have been at the Department of Transportation where he is a public outreach specialist for the Smart Commute program. Deputy Mayor Don Bennett said that according to the Hatch Act of 1939, Cunningham is forbidden from holding public office due to the federal funding to his county department.

According to the Hatch Act, employees are prohibited from engaging in partisan political management or partisan political campaigns.

“The (Westchester County) Bee Line accepts federal funds, which is the reason why Mr. Cunningham is unable to run,” Bennett said.

Resident Reginald Johnson will take Cunningham’s place on the Democratic ticket. Johnson is an attorney who also works for the county, though he is not affected by the Hatch Act since his department doesn’t accept federal funds, Bennett said.

Johnson will join city council candidate Kathleen Talbot, Deputy Mayor Donald Bennett and Mayor Mary Foster on the Democratic ticket. Democratic Chair Michael Kane has already announced he is running for the Westchester County Legislature District 1 seat currently held by former Peekskill Mayor John Testa.

 

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