Yonkers Insider: 2023 Campaign Trail: Statement from Westchester County Democratic Party Chair Suzanne Berger.

Exciting News From the WCDC Chairwoman about this years NYS Supreme Court race!

The Westchester County Democratic Committee will send 83 Delegates to the nominating convention for NYS Supreme Court to be held on August 10, 2023. I look forward to placing the name of the incumbent, Hon. Charles D. Wood in nomination on August 10. I've been a Democratic Party Chair for more than twenty-five years, and a practicing commercial litigator for 38 years. That experience and extensive conversations with Democratic Leaders throughout the County inform my statement. It has been our practice to support re-election of qualified incumbent judges to promote the stability of the judiciary and to have the benefit of their experience and wisdom.

This year, in an effort to have a more inclusive discussion, the WCDC surveyed the elected judicial delegates. That survey shows me that more than half are firmly in support of nominating the incumbent jurist, the Hon. Charles D. Wood, for another term. This includes the unanimous support of the seventeen delegates from the 89th and 90th Assembly Districts, covering the Cities of Yonkers and Mt. Vernon, and all the delegates elected from the towns of Eastchester, Harrison, Lewisboro, Mt. Kisco, New Castle, North Castle, North Salem, Ossining, Pound Ridge, Rye, and Somers, and additional delegates from other towns and cities throughout the County.

Justice Wood has served on the Supreme Court bench since 2010, and previously sat in the busy City Court of Yonkers. He has earned the respect of his colleagues on the bench and bar. In addition to his busy trial schedule, Justice Wood chairs the Committee on Gender Fairness for the 9th Judicial District. He has been endorsed by the Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body; other prestigious endorsements are anticipated. Justice Wood is an enrolled Democrat; he and his wife and sons now reside in the Town of Lewisboro. He is a graduate of Vassar College (1991) and New York Law School (1994).

The Westchester County Democratic Committee will also be supporting for re-election the Hon. Franscesca E. Connolly, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department. Justice Connolly was elected to the Supreme Court in 2009 and was previously a Town Justice in Ossining and prior to that she was the Deputy Town Supervisor in Ossining. Justice Connolly has also been endorsed by the Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body and she expects other significant endorsements. Justice Connolly is an enrolled Democrat, she and her husband reside in Ossining, New York; and enjoys spending time with their children and grandchild. She is a graduate of SUNY-Albany (1979) and Pace Law School (1982).

Westchester County also looks forward to support the two candidates recommended by the Rockland County Democratic Committee for two additional Supreme Court seats this year.

Suzanne Berger

Chair, Westchester County Democratic Committee