Withdrawn Candidate’s Son Collected Petition Signatures For Opponent

Ralph Riverso Sr. of Congers withdrew as the Republican candidate for Clarkstown Town Supervisor on Monday citing health concerns. Prior to that, his son, Ralph Riverso Jr. also of Congers gathered Independence Party signatures for his father’s opponent Alex Gromack. 

Riverso Sr. said on Thursday that his son is a registered member of the Rockland Independence Party and committee member. The petitions Riverso Jr. carried were dated June 22nd, 23rd and 29th and had more than 50 signatures. 

In addition to Gromack, the incumbent Democratic town supervisor, the petitions contained a mix of Republican and Democratic candidates’ names. Those listed were Republican incumbent Town Justices Scott Ugell and Craig Johns, incumbent Republican Councilman George Hoehmann, incumbent Republican Highway Superintendent Wayne Ballard and incumbent Democratic Councilwoman Stephanie Hausner. 

Riverso Sr. said it was his son’s right to carry a petition for whomever he wanted.

“As I said my son has the right to pick whoever he wants to pick,” said Riverso Sr.

Clarkstown Republican Party Chair Bob Axelrod said he was unaware of Riverso Jr.’s actions.  Axelrod is dealing with the aftermath of Riverso Sr. and town clerk candidate Kathleen Sheridan’s decisions on Monday not to accept their respective candidacies.  

Axelrod said the town committee has until Friday to replace Riverso Sr. and Sheridan with other candidates. He said one person has stepped forward and expressed interest in running for supervisor. Axelrod said the Committee on Vacancies has to evaluate the candidate to determine if he or she is viable.

“If someone is an eligible candidate, we can use the Committee of Vacancies to replace the others on the ballot,” he said. 

Axelrod said he was disappointed that the town Republican slate might not be complete.

“It eats me up when we leave certain positions blank,” he said.

Axelrod acknowledged difficulty in fielding candidates.

“It was hard from the beginning to get people to step forward,” he said.

Axelrod said if suitable replacement candidates cannot be found the lines for supervisor and clerk will remain blank on the ballot in November. 

“We will not cross endorse,” he said.

The lack of candidates is not the only difficulty Axelrod has been confronted with this week. He said Clarkstown Councilman Frank Borelli’s support of Democratic Highway Superintendent challenger Dennis Malone could be considered as disloyalty to the party because Ballard is the Republican candidate.

“By openly supporting someone else that is blatant disloyalty,” said Axelrod.

Borelli is a town committee member and if the Disloyalty Clause is invoked, he could be removed from that position. Axelrod said the clause is part of the Republican town and county committees bylaws.

“We have to go through a process to do what is right and legal,” said Axelrod.

 Axelrod said the Executive Committee is expected to meet next week and Borelli will have an opportunity to speak. 

Borelli had reacted to the possibility of being removed on Monday following County Legislator Frank Sparaco’s release of secretly recorded tapes of Borelli and others allegedly trying to get his cooperation to bolster Malone’s campaign.

Borelli said he was unhappy with the way Ballard was running the department and thought Malone could do a better job.

“They’re trying to diminish what I’m doing,” said Borelli. “I’m supporting the right person. They’re mad at me because I’m not supporting a Republican.”