GOP, Dems eye special elections Tuesday

Democrats seek to take control of state Senate

ALBANY, N.Y. » In New York state government news, two upcoming special elections in the Bronx and Westchester County could decide which party controls the state Senate.

Meanwhile, Cynthia Nixon says she’ll release her tax returns as soon as they’re ready.

SENATE SPECIALS

Voters in Democrat-leaning districts in Westchester County and the Bronx will head to the polls Tuesday to fill two vacant state Senate seats.

Republicans now have a oneseat majority, though the math is complicated because Democratic Sen. Sicmha Felder, of Brooklyn, currently sits with Republicans. Democrats are hoping to lure him back to the party fold if they can win both of Tuesday’s special elections.

In Westchester, Democratic Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer faces Republican Julie Killian, a former local official. In the Bronx, Democratic Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda is up against Republican Patrick Delices.

The Bronx race isn’t expected to be close, as registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by more than 20 to 1. The Westchester race is expected to be much closer, and no matter who is ahead on election night, the likely challenges to the vote tally could have the race going into extra innings.

Democrats already control the Assembly and hold the offices of governor, attorney general and comptroller.

TAXES

As is his habit, Cuomo released his tax return on Tax Day, showing that he made $212,000 last year and paid nearly $55,000 in taxes. His return also showed he can expect to see a savings this year from the recent federal tax code overhaul, which Cuomo has blasted. The new tax code will sharply cap a deduction on state and local taxes, increasing the tax burden for many New Yorkers. But for those like Cuomo, the overhaul will mean less federal taxes. An estimate by Politico indicates he can expect to save about $10,000 this year.

His Democratic primary challenger, Cynthia Nixon, however, didn’t immediately release her return, prompting Cuomo’s campaign to issue a statement that “anyone running for governor or president should be willing to release their taxes to the public — a principle accepted by everyone but Donald Trump.”

A spokeswoman for the “Sex and the City” star turned political candidate said Nixon will release her returns, as soon as she and her wife Christine Marinoni finish them.

“Cynthia and Christine filed a routine extension a couple of weeks ago for their personal income taxes, while they wait on missing information from third parties,” Nixon spokeswoman Sarah Ford said. “To answer Andrew Cuomo’s latest charge, yes, they will absolutely release them in the coming weeks.”

UPCOMING

Cuomo will head to Puerto Rico on April 29, the third such trip since the island was devastated by a hurricane last year. Cuomo’s latest trip comes after an island-wide power outage as yet another team of New York technicians and repair crews go to the island to assist in the recovery.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics meeting is Tuesday in Albany.

Legislation to authorize and regulate physician-assisted suicide is the topic of two upcoming public hearings by the Assembly Health Committee. The first is Monday in Albany. The second is May 3 in New York City.