The Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee met via Zoom on October 20, 2025 to hear the complaint of Marjorie Hsu (Democrat), candidate for mayor, against incumbent Jim Husselbee (Unite Sleepy Hollow), candidate for mayor, incumbent Tom Andruss (Unite Sleepy Hollow), candidate for Village Trustee, Jim Garvey (Unite Sleepy Hollow), candidate for Village Trustee, and Carol Banino (Unite Sleepy Hollow), candidate for Village Trustee. Ms. Hsu and Ms. Banino attended the Hearing.
Complaint:
Ms. Hsu complained that an ad placed in the River Journal was misleading since the headline made it appear that the Unite Sleepy Hollow slate had the official endorsement of the Democratic Party. The headline reads “Democrats Endorse Unite Sleepy Hollow.”
Finding: Unfair Campaign Practice
The Committee found that the headline was misleading by creating the false impression that the Democratic Party is endorsing Unite Sleepy Hollow. The use of the word “Endorse” in the political arena is used to imply the endorsement by political parties. The ad violates the following FCPC Principle: “The candidate will not use or condone any campaign material or advertisement that misstates, misrepresents or distorts material fact or any communication that misleads the public.”
The purpose of the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee is to help set an acceptable standard for political discussion by offering a forum for identifying unfair campaign practices and promoting a climate in which candidates conduct honest and fair campaigns. The Committee encourages candidates to conduct campaigns openly and fairly, to focus on issues and qualifications, to refrain from dishonest and defamatory attacks, and to avoid the use of campaign materials that distort the facts.
The Committee accepts written complaints from candidates about alleged unfair campaign practices. The Committee may then hold hearings to determine whether the action complained about is indeed unfair or whether it falls within acceptable political discourse. Among other things that the Committee will consider to be an unfair campaign practice is a misstatement of a material fact or any communication that misleads the public.
The Committee has no power to compel anyone or any group to stop doing what it has found to be unfair, nor does it have the authority or power to enforce election or other laws. If the Committee acts on a complaint, it will release its findings to inform the public. The Committee may choose not to consider a complaint; in that case, a hearing is not held and the parties to the complaint are notified.
