Claims about convention false: Mr. Kaplan's letter claims that almost 2,000 proxy votes were disqualified. That is absolutely false. Posted on 6/28/2006 ; entire article available here.

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I am writing in response to a June 20 letter by Stephen Kaplan concerning the Democratic Designating Convention for the 19th Congressional District in Westchester County. (Get entire story - click link)  Please click here to read more.



Martorano Helps Seal Agreement to Protect Yorktown: The agreement stems from a 2004 study by the Bronx Zoo-based Metropolitan Conservation Alliance that mapped wildlife corridors across all four towns. The pact calls for each town to adopt land use and development policies aimed at preserving the biodiversity of those corridors Posted on 6/24/2006 ; entire article available here.

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Jim Martorano is serious about conservation. Click link to read article.  Please click here to read more.



Democrats lining up to face Kelly 5/30/2006: 6 candidates seek party's nomination  Posted on 6/2/2006 ; entire article available here.

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Still more than three months away from a Sept. 12 primary, a clear frontrunner has yet to emerge from among the six Democrats seeking to take on U.S. Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, in the November election. Three different Democrats have won each of the three county party conventions already held in the 19th District, which includes parts of Dutchess, Orange, Westchester, Rockland and all of Putnam counties. Councilman James Martorano took Westchester.  Please click here to read more.



martorano gets nod from northern Westchester: In the six-way battle for the Democratic nod in New York's 19th Congressional District, Yorktown councilman Jim Martorano won the endorsement of the Northern Westchester Democratic Coalition last night, after three rounds of balloting.  Posted on 5/25/2006 ; entire article available here.

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Here are the results: Jim Martorano: 57% Darren Rigger: 25.9% Judy Aydelott: 12.9%  Please click here to read more.



Times Herald-Record: Dems face fierce race. Posted on 5/23/2006 ; entire article available here.

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Click link to read article.  Please click here to read more.



Yorktown councilman announces bid to unseat Kelly: YORKTOWN — Longtime Democratic Yorktown Councilman James Martorano, a Bronx Legal Aid lawyer, announced his candidacy yesterday for the 2006 race against Rep. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah.  Posted on 5/8/2006 ; entire article available here.

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Martorano, 57, joins an already-crowded field of Democratic hopefuls buoyed by the disarray of Republicans nationally. The Democrats believe six-term incumbent Kelly, 69, can be defeated in the heavily Republican district that includes all of Putnam County and parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties.  Please click here to read more.



Jim's Platform:  Posted on 5/1/2006 .
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Thank you for being a Democrat and fighting for the values and principles that we hold so dear. I have been a lifelong loyal Democrat and have proudly worked for great Democrats starting with the presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy. For the past fifteen years, I have served as Councilman of Yorktown, having been elected four times in what had previously been a Republican stronghold. I also have had the honor of serving as Deputy Supervisor for the past eight years. I ask for your support. Democracy is facing perilous challenges. The stakes have never been higher. In the coming months, the federal government will make critical decisions involving many of the major issues affecting the quality of life of all Americans. As your Congressman, I will -- • address our country’s needs for national security • support the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq • fight to protect our Social Security system • work to reform the Medicare Part D prescription drug law • vote to end the ridiculous Republican tax cuts for the very wealthy • submit legislation that will provide a much-needed national energy policy with a vision that recognizes global warming and fights for a cleaner and more protected environment On a local level, I will -- • utilize my experience as an elected local official to establish federal initiatives that will help local governments in three areas • push for more federal funding for educational mandates to help ease the school portion of our ever increasing local property taxes • establish a fund to be used by local municipalities to purchase critical open space, thereby easing the constant pressure of overdevelopment • aid local communities in their efforts to place school resource officers in our high schools to stem the tide of teenage drug and alcohol abuse I have conveyed a message of passion, determination and commitment to our Democratic values. Hundreds of Democrats have responded to me with enthusiasm and warmth. I believe that together we can and we must beat Sue Kelly and help return our government to the people. I believe I am the most qualified to serve our district in Congress. But the truth is that I cannot come close to accomplishing this without your support. I pledge to you that I will always be there for you, fighting as I have my whole life for the principles that make us DEMOCRATS. Please feel free to email me anytime at JimforCongress@aol.com. Be sure to visit our new website: www.jim2006.com, and help spread the word about our efforts to get our country back on track. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Jim Martorano


Regarding Sue Kelly:  Posted on 4/30/2006 .
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Yorktown Councilman James Martorano, who is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress from the 19th Congressional District (covering all of Putnam and parts of Westchester, Orange, Dutchess and Rockland counties), stated today that Republican incumbent Sue Kelly's announcement that she will seek re-election in November 'shows just how out of touch she is with the problems facing the people of our district and the country.' Martorano noted that, in her re-election letter, Kelly praised the economy as 'a record of progress.' He asked: 'With gas prices going through the roof, companies right in her own district abandoning pension plans, a Medicare prescription drug plan that is causing chaos in the lives of older residents and their families, and soaring property taxes to pay for unfunded federal education mandates, how can she boast that she is 'speaking up for the families of the Hudson River families'?' 'My campaign theme is 'People Over Politics,'' Martorano continued. 'In her letter, Kelly states that she has been putting 'practical progress ahead of partisan politics.' Yet, she has been an unwavering supporter of the partisan policies of the Bush Administration and disgraced former Republican House Leader Tom Delay.' Specifically, Martorano contrasted Kelly's stated priorities in her letter with his: Kelly is for 'permanent tax cuts' for the wealthy. Martorano wants to roll back the cuts for all with incomes in excess of $500,000. Kelly is for keeping the 'education bill.' Martorano wants to reform the 'No Child Left Behind' bill and stop unfunded federal education mandates. Kelly has no solution for the country's health care crisis, other than denouncing what she calls 'a government-run health plan.' Martorano supports a single-payer plan that will improve coverage and reduce costs and paperwork for all Americans. Kelly is silent on the country's looming retirement crisis. Martorano opposed the Bush Social Security privatization plan and will fight for pension reform to protect today's and tomorrow's retirees. 'There's only one thing that's accurate in her letter,' added Martorano. 'She wrote that '2006 is becoming an epic battle for Republicans in New York.' The people of the 19th CD are fed up with the Bush-Kelly record of our men and women dying in a wrong war in Iraq, attacks on Social Security, record federal deficits, and rampant corruption. We have had enough of business as usual in Washington and we are not going to take it any more. The Bush-Kelly crowd is out of touch and out of time.' To read more about Jim Martorano's positions on the key issues affecting the 19th CD, see his Website at www.jim2006.com.