Lawler and Francois to battle for 97th Assembly seat; NYS highest court won't hear appeal
Republican Assemblyman Michael Lawler and Spring Valley Democrat Eudson Francois could compete to represent the 97th Assembly District.
The state's highest court declined to hear Lawler's appeal of a lower court decision placing Francois on the ballot. The Court of Appeals must accept cases and constitutional issues must be at stake.
Lawler claimed the Supreme Court Appellate Division should not have placed Francois on the ballot. Lawler argued the Francois campaign violated election laws and a judge, despite keeping Francois off the ballot, should never have considered an appeal of the Board of Elections invalidating Francois' petition.
Appellate panel: Appeals unit puts Francois on ballot for Assembly
Lawler said he welcomed Francois as a candidate and looked "forward to a spirited campaign" against the former Spring Valley trustee.
"Unfortunately, the court declined to hear the case, however, it is of no concern," Lawler said. "As the campaign gets under way, I look forward to running on my record and earning the support of voters from across the 97th Assembly District."
Hours after making that comment about the Assembly, Lawler released a statement that he’s leaning toward a run for Congress. He would make a final decision in a few days the congressional lines could be approved on Friday.
Francois, who lost a write-in campaign for Spring Valley mayor in November, had criticized Lawler for trying to run unopposed. Lawler's supporters also successfully challenged another Democrat from Ramapo trying to get a ballot spot.
Francois said he's ready to take on Lawler, saying, "My petitions prove I have the support of voters in this district. Assemblyman Lawler should accept the fact that elections involve competition.”
The Democrats' campaign to recapture the 97th Assembly District seat ran into state election law hurdles. Candidates' ballot petitions can be rejected over election law infractions, such as not providing an address or correct election district, or properly witnessing signatures.
Another Democrat, Aron Felberman of Ramapo, got knocked off the ballot for several technical violations. Felberman has be chosen to succeed Michael Klatsky.
On a challenge by Lawler and his supporters, acting state Supreme Court Judge Paul Marx found the naming of Felberman to be invalid, and suffered from fatal defects. Marx's decision was upheld by the appellate panel and not appealed.
Ramapo Democratic Party Chair Mona Montal said the Klatsky vacancy committee chose Felberman to cater to the desires of the Orthodox Jewish community in Monsey, who wanted a representative in Albany.
The newly redrawn Assembly district slices Monsey in half, diluting the bloc vote. Legislator Aron Weider, the governing body's only Hasidic Jewish lawmaker, declined to run. He's made unsuccessful runs before in a district that includes Kiryas Joel in Orange County.
Lawler, a Pearl River Republican and political consultant, won the two-year seat in 2020 by defeating Democrat Ellen Jaffee of Ramapo. He defeated Jaffee with a strong bloc vote.
Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Eudson Francois kept on ballot, set to face Michael Lawler
