Fair Campaign Committee Upholds Shatzkin in Cortlandt Town Clerk Race

From the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee

The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee met on September 7, 2017 to hear the complaint of Laroue Shatzkin, candidate for Town Clerk, Town of Cortlandt, against Gary Dyckman, candidate for the same position.

COMPLAINT: Ms. Shatzkin complains that Mr. Dyckman’s lawn sign, which reads “ELECT DYCKMAN,” is misleading because the current and long-time Town Clerk is Joann Dyckman who is not a candidate in this election cycle, and that Mr. Dyckman’s usage of the signage without his first name misleads voters.

FINDING: UNFAIR
The Committee found that the lawn signs are misleading because for many years the Town Clerk had been Joann Dyckman. She is not a candidate this year, so a new candidate posting "Dyckman" without providing his first name could lead many voters to believe that the current Town Clerk is running for re-election.