RoseMarie Panio

RoseMarie Panio (born 1941) is an American politician that ran the Westchester County, New York Republican Committee from 2004 to 2007. She was unanimously elected Secretary for the State GOP in 2006, but has been unsuccessful in three attempts at public office, including a 2007 race for Town supervisor of her home town.[1][2] Panio owns a liquor store in Peekskill, New York, and is a grandmother.[3] She resides in Yorktown Heights, New York.

RoseMarie Panio
Secretary, New York State GOP
In office
2006–2007
Preceded byElizabeth Brilliant
Succeeded byRebecca Marino
Personal details
Born1941
New York, New York
Spouse(s)Rocco Panio
Children2
OccupationLiquor Store Owner
Websitewww.rosemariepanio.com

Political career and background

Panio was the first female Chairperson of the Westchester County Republican Committee.[3] Panio's leadership was the subject of criticism as Westchester, one of the oldest Republican strongholds in the United States and home of former Governor George Pataki, began to trend heavily Democratic during her tenure.[4] After her resignation, it was announced that the Westchester Republican Committee's bank account held a negative balance.[5][6]

Prior to her election, she served as Vice-Chairperson for nine years.[3] She also held the position of Chairperson of the Republican Committee for the Town of Yorktown for fourteen years.[3] Before entering politics and owning a liquor store, Panio had worked in the advertising office of Look Magazine.[3]

In 1997 she ran as a candidate for the Westchester County Board of Legislators, losing a close election to Democrat Michael Kaplowitz by only 39 votes.[7] She lost a rematch in 1999 in another close election.[7] She was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1996 was an alternate delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City.[8]

Panio was appointed to the NYS Watershed Protection and Partnership Council by Governor George Pataki, served on the White House Committee on Small Business, and also as Chairperson for the 19th Congressional District's Senior Task Force.[8] She is a member of the Yorktown Conservation Board and sits on the board of directors for Hudson Valley Hospital Center.[8] Panio has received the Josh Hand Award in 1998, the Croton Watershed Clean Water Coalition Award in 2001, and was named one of New York State's Woman in Distinction in 2004 by the New York State Senate.[8]

Panio is involved in many local civic activities, and is the Vice-President of the Peekskill, NY Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Yorktown Recycling Committee, Town Cleanup Committee, and Heart Fund Committee, President of the Lincoln Society, a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Christopher Columbus Society, the Circolo da Vinci organization, and founder of the Friends of the Croton Watershed.[3] She is also fluent in Italian.[3]

On June 11, 2007 Panio announced her resignation as Chairperson of the Westchester County Republican Committee in order to run for the position of Town Supervisor in Yorktown, New York.[9] She was quickly endorsed by the Town Committee which she chairs.[10] She was vying to replace Republican Linda Cooper, who opted not to seek reelection after twelve years in office.[10] Panio's opponent was Yorktown Resident and business owner Don Peters, a former Republican who switched his party affiliation to Democrat in order to run for Town Supervisor in 2005, whom Cooper defeated by a comfortable yet slim margin.[10] Independent Linda Clemenza, who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Supervisor in 2005, announced she would mount another write-in campaign in 2007.[11] For the general election Panio was endorsed by the Journal News, but was still defeated easily by Peters, as he and other Democrats swept many traditionally Republican northern Westchester races.[12][13]

"I think women have demonstrated in leadership positions that they're capable of handling very difficult situations," said Panio, who points to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as an example of a powerful woman on her side of the political spectrum. But, she cautioned, "for the presidency, I don't think it really matters if it's a man or a woman, it has to be the right person for the job.".[14]

Electoral history
Town Supervisor - Town of Yorktown, 2007[1][9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Don Peters 4693 58% Democrat pickup
Republican RoseMarie Panio 3255 42%
Write-In Linda Clemenza[11] 9 0%
Westchester County Legislator - District 4, 1999[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Michael B. Kaplowitz (I) 6148 52.3 Democrat hold
Republican RoseMarie Panio 4954 42.1
  • Panio also ran on the Conservative Party of New York ticket.[15]
Westchester County Legislator - District 4, 1997[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Michael B. Kaplowitz 5341 50.1 Democrat pickup
Republican RoseMarie Panio 5302 49.9
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See also
  • Westchester County, NY

Notes
  1. WESTCHESTER ELECTION ROUNDUP. The Journal News, November 6, 2007.
  2. "Live from the State GOP". Albany Times Union. November 2006.
  3. Official Biography, retrieved from Friends of RoseMarie Panio on 7/16/2007.
  4. More Troubles for Rosemarie Panio?. Yonkers Insider, March 7, 2007.
  5. The cash-starved Westchester GOP. The Journal News, July 17, 2007.
  6. Westchester GOP Nearly Broke. Yonkers Insider, August 15, 2007.
  7. "Kaplowitz launches campaign for 2nd term on county board". The Journal News. June 2, 1999.
  8. "RoseMarie Panio named Woman of Distinction". New York State Senate. June 9, 2004.
  9. "Panio launches campaign". LoHud.com Politics on the Hudson. June 11, 2007.
  10. "No-sign pact shaping up in Yorktown". The Journal News. June 26, 2007.
  11. "Clemenza makes it a three-way race for supervisor". The Journal News. June 26, 2007.
  12. Howard, Brian, Serico, Chris, Ganga, Elizabeth, and Gorman, Sean. Democrats do well in several northern Westchester towns. The Journal News, November 6, 2007.
  13. Our recommendations for Yorktown supervisor and Town Board. The Journal News, October 31, 2007.
  14. "Female politicians say climate for women has changed for the better". The Journal News. January 27, 2007.
  15. "1999 General Canvass Election Results" (PDF). Westchester County Board of Elections. 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30.
  16. Greene, Donna (November 23, 1997). "Democrats Gain Control Of the Board of Legislators". New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
Preceded by
Linda Cooper		 Republican Candidate, Yorktown Town Supervisor
2007		 Succeeded by
Preceded by
Elizabeth Brilliant		 Secretary, New York State GOP
2006-		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
James Cavanaugh		 Chairperson, Westchester County GOP
2004-2007		 Succeeded by
Douglas Colety
Preceded by
Nancy Elliott		 Chairperson, Yorktown Republican Committee
1993-		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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