Westchester Insider: Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni Campaign: Press Release: “Submit Your Financial Disclosures”.

 

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 14, 2021

Tim Idoni Calls on Challenger Shanae Williams to Comply with New York State Law and Her Obligation to Voters: “Submit Your Financial Disclosures”

NEW ROCHELLE, New York — Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni calls on Democratic primary challenger Shanae Williams to submit her delinquent January 11, May 17 and June 7 Campaign Finance Disclosure Reports with the New York State Board of Elections. Mr. Idoni raised the matter at a June 7 candidates forum, hosted online by Indivisible Westchester and more than 20 other grassroots and Democratic organizations. Ms. Williams responded that a report was in the process of being prepared and would be filed “in the next couple of days.” A week has passed, and still no report has been filed. Since announcing her candidacy in December 2020, Ms. Williams’ campaign for Westchester County Clerk has failed to submit any of her three required financial disclosures. Ms. Williams’ campaign has withheld this information despite having engaged in the very activities that New York State Election Law requires a candidate to document. In addition to making general appeals for donations, her campaign has hosted a minimum of five fundraising events this year, publicized for February 3, March 29, April 15, May 16, and June 10. At the same time, her campaign has generated a steady flow of political advertising including a professional video, mailers, palm cards, yard signs, and more than 100 pieces of branded social media graphics. Ms. Williams is also on the record as having hired top-tier communications firm BerlinRosen (see “Why the Westchester County Clerk race has gotten so heated", by Kay Dervishi; City & State: New York; May 12, 2021). “Candidates must make public how much money they take in and from whom, and how and where they spend that money, to be in compliance with our election laws. The voters deserve nothing less from us,” said Mr. Idoni. “If Ms. Williams truly believes in transparency—as espoused in her campaign materials—she will file her past-due reports immediately, as early voting is already underway.” Mr. Idoni added, “Timely filing is not only important to running a political campaign. It is absolutely essential to carrying out the job of County Clerk, where people rely on us to promptly and responsibly process everything from their land deeds and passport applications, to divorce papers and military discharge records. If Ms. Williams cannot or will not file her own financial disclosures, how can the people of Westchester County trust that she will reliably handle the more than 140,000 filings that come through the Clerk’s office each year?” Knowingly or Willfully Failing to File Statements is a Class A misdemeanor in violation of Election Law § 14-126(4), and is punishable with up to one year in jail for each offense. In 2015, the New York State Attorney General and the Board of Elections Chief Enforcement Counsel secured the arrest of Michele Adolphe on three similar counts related to her 2014 primary race for the New York State Assembly. All of Mr. Idoni’s campaign disclosures to date can be viewed on the New York State Board of Elections website at publicreporting.elections.ny.gov. The fourth and final report in the 2021 primary calendar will be due after the primary election, for the period ending on July 11. Seeking re-election as Westchester County Clerk, Mr. Idoni is running on a record of saving Westchester County government more than $37 million while increasing services, outreach, and inclusion. New York State’s Primary Election will be held on June 22, with early voting running from June 12-20