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Maryknoll Location Divides County Legislator Candidates

OSSINING, N.Y. -- Is the Maryknoll Society in Ossining or New Castle?

Legislator Catherine Borgia and Republican opponent Peter Tripodi are sparring over the location of Maryknoll, whether it is in New Castle or Ossining.

Legislator Catherine Borgia and Republican opponent Peter Tripodi are sparring over the location of Maryknoll, whether it is in New Castle or Ossining.

Photo Credit: File Photo
Photo Credit: File Photo

That question has sparked the latest debate between Legislator Catherine Borgia and her opponent Peter Tripodi.

Tripdodi claims Maryknoll is technically in the Town of New Castle and is in legislative District 4, not District 9. Tripodi showed a Westchester County map that places the Maryknoll property in New Castle with their legislator as Michael Kaplowitz.

Maryknoll heavily votes Democrat. A letter sent by Douglas Colety of the Westchester Board of Elections said they would consider moving Maryknoll into New Castle's voting district, but not until after the election.

Tripodi said he discovered this snafu when he was going to canvas Maryknoll. He said the snafu has cost Republicans in close elections in the past.

"This isn't right," Tripodi said. "This is a mistake."

Borgia claims Tripodi is trying to disenfranchise the Maryknoll Sisters.

"This type of dirty maneuvering two weeks before an election is exactly why people are turned off by politics," said Borgia. "You don't like a particular law?  Shut the government down. You don't like how an election is going? Get rid of some voters. Mr. Tripodi should be ashamed of himself."

According to Borgia, a judge in the 1970s ruled against Republican candidates making a similar argument.

Tripodi said with her stance, Borgia is advocating voter fraud.

"She should be ashamed," Tripodi said. "If she was a real elected official, she would stand with me. She is doing this to take away from her record. I have never seen an elected official do this."

Borgia said while the property is divided between New Castle and Ossining, the main entrance of the property is on 100 Ryder Road, in the Town of Ossining.

"Maryknoll is a part of the Ossining community," Borgia said. "He's desperate. He's trying to throw nuns out of the Ossining community. This is patently ridiculous on its face."

Borgia said she is simply trying to protect the rights of Ossining residents.

"He is a young person trying to seek opportunistic gain," Borgia said. "This reeks of sore loserdom."

Tripodi said he will wait to hear back from the Board of Elections before taking the matter to court.

District 9 represents Ossining, Cortlandt and Peekskill.

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