A Republican candidate seeking a New York congressional seat has sued the Democrat-controlled suburban city of Mount Vernon, accusing officials of blocking approval for a GOP “voter outreach town hall.”
Joe Cinquemani, who is challenging Democratic Rep. George Latimer in New York’s 16th Congressional District, said Monday that city officials had retreated from their stated “scheduling conflict” explanation after he filed a First Amendment lawsuit in federal court last week.
“I think it is going to happen,” Cinquemani told The Post. “I don’t think they’re stringing me along this time.”
In his lawsuit, Cinquemani alleged that Mount Vernon prevented him from holding the event at the Doles Recreation Center.
Democrats hold every elected office in the city, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 29,108 to 2,619, according to figures from the Westchester County Board of Elections.
Judge Nelson Roman adjourned the case until October, giving the city time to allow Cinquemani to host the event—a move that could render the lawsuit moot.
Cinquemani said the city’s corporation counsel offered what he viewed as a weak explanation, insisting that the event was not being delayed because of his Republican affiliation.
Cinquemani has agreed that the candidates participating in the “voter outreach town hall” will not bring campaign signs or literature.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and the rest of the statewide GOP ticket are expected to be invited to speak, according to Cinquemani.
He said the town hall will focus on issues affecting Mount Vernon, which was shaken earlier this summer after Deputy Police Commissioner Jennifer Lackard was arrested for allegedly helping her gang-affiliated son attempt a drive-by shooting outside a Bronx courthouse.
“I know as I stand here, the people of Mount Vernon are not happy,” Cinquemani said.
“They feel betrayed and abandoned. They’ve been voting Democrat for generations now, and the standard of living is falling in just about every metric,” he added.
The town hall is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 24.
Cinquemani faces a steep challenge against Latimer in the Nov. 4 election in the heavily Democratic district.
Democrats outnumber Republicans 264,463 to 77,136 in the 16th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Westchester County, according to state data.
Members of Congress serve two-year terms at an annual salary of $175,000.
