First Female Judge Appointed in Peekskill in Partisan Vote
The Democratic majority on the Peekskill Common Council made history last week by appointing the first female city court judge.
Melissa Loehr, a Legal Aid Society attorney who once worked in Peekskill City Court and has actively campaigned for Democratic candidates in the city, was selected to the part-time associate judge position for a six-year term at an annual salary of $87,000.
The position became vacant in August when Thomas Langan was forced to retire at the age of 70. Approximately 20 people expressed interest in the job and the council was unable to reach a consensus throughout the interview process, which was conducted entirely behind closed doors despite Mayor Frank Catalina’s suggestion that it be done in public.
“Melissa will make an excellent city court judge,” said Deputy Mayor Drew Claxton. “She will bring a sensitivity to the bench that is needed in this city. She will be ethical and fair. She has dedicated her career to ensuring the legal rights of low-income and minority people.”
“Regardless of what else you might hear from those who supported several other candidates over the past month or so, Ms. Loehr will make a fine city judge,” said Councilwoman Kathy Talbot. “And, as the first woman judge appointed in Peekskill, her appointment is historic. And she knows our community well as a long-time resident with kids in our schools.”
Catalina and his Republican colleagues, Vincent Vesce and Joe Torres, were advocating for the appointment of Lissette Fernandez, who has a law office in Peekskill and is a former assistant district attorney and deputy attorney general. With 46% of registered voters in Peekskill being Hispanic, Catalina argued Fernandez, who is bilingual, would have been a perfect fit.
The mayor called the appointment of Loehr “a mistake” and “a disgusting display of party politics.”
Torres agreed, remarking, “It’s a political favor. I’m not voting for a candidate that’s not qualified. Ms. Fernandez was no doubt the best candidate for this job, hands down.”
The three Republicans supported Fernandez in an official resolution, but the four Democrats all abstained, a move that led Vesce to utter, “No guts.” After Councilman Andre Rainey expressed his support for Peekskill Board of Education member Colin Smith, who initially submitted his resume but later withdrew it and was never interviewed, Catalina made a motion to insert Smith’s name instead of Fernandez.
Smith received the support of Catalina, Vesce and Torres, but the four Democrats, including Rainey, voted no, prompting Catalina to lambast Rainey.
“That’s being called out on it. Live and learn,” Catalina asserted to Rainey. “This councilman is full of talk. The vote trumps the rhetoric. Be careful what you say.”
“The appointment has been unnecessarily acrimonious,” said Rainey, who contended the process was filled with “lies and manipulation.” “Public online Facebook pages and newspapers were used by the mayor to lobby public opinion for another candidate who subsequently withdrew. That is not the way city business should be conducted.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/