RoseMarie Panio
Encyclopedia
RoseMarie Panio 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. Panio owns a liquor store
in Peekskill, New York
, and is a grandmother. She resides in Yorktown Heights, New York
.
, began to trend heavily Democratic during her tenure. After her resignation, it was announced that the Westchester Republican Committee's bank account held a negative balance.
Prior to her election, she served as Vice-Chairperson for nine years. She also held the position of Chairperson of the Republican Committee for the Town of Yorktown for fourteen years. Before entering politics and owning a liquor store, Panio had worked in the advertising office of Look Magazine
.
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. She lost a rematch in 1999 in another close election
. 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
.
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. She is a member of the Yorktown Conservation Board and sits on the board of directors for Hudson Valley Hospital Center. 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
.
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. She is also fluent in Italian.
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
. She was quickly endorsed by the Town Committee which she chairs.
She was vying to replace Republican Linda Cooper, who opted not to seek reelection after twelve years in office. 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. Independent Linda Clemenza, who was also an unsuccessful candidate for Supervisor in 2005, announced she would mount another write-in campaign in 2007. 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
that ran the Westchester County, New York Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Committee from 2004 to 2007. She was unanimously elected Secretary for the State GOP
New York Republican State Committee
The New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
in 2006, but has been unsuccessful in three attempts at public office, including a 2007 race for Town supervisor
Town supervisor
Town Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
of her home town. Panio owns a liquor store
Liquor store
In the United States, Australia and Canada, a liquor store is a type of store that specializes in the sale of alcoholic beverages. In South Africa and Namibia these stores are generally called bottle stores....
in Peekskill, New York
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
, and is a grandmother. She resides in Yorktown Heights, New York
Yorktown Heights, New York
Yorktown Heights is a census-designated place in the town of Yorktown in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 1,781 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Yorktown Heights is located at ....
.
Political career and background
Panio was the first female Chairperson of the Westchester County Republican Committee. 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 PatakiGeorge Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
, began to trend heavily Democratic during her tenure. After her resignation, it was announced that the Westchester Republican Committee's bank account held a negative balance.
Prior to her election, she served as Vice-Chairperson for nine years. She also held the position of Chairperson of the Republican Committee for the Town of Yorktown for fourteen years. Before entering politics and owning a liquor store, Panio had worked in the advertising office of Look Magazine
Look (American magazine)
Look was a bi-weekly, general-interest magazine published in Des Moines, Iowa from 1937 to 1971, with more of an emphasis on photographs than articles...
.
In 1997 she ran as a candidate for the Westchester County Board of Legislators
Westchester County Board of Legislators
The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County. The powers of the Board are enumerated in the County’s charter. A key power of the Board concerns finances: appropriating funds, approving the budget and levying taxes...
, losing a close election to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Michael Kaplowitz by only 39 votes. She lost a rematch in 1999 in another close election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
. She was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1996
1996 Republican National Convention
The 1996 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California, from August 12 to August 15, 1996...
was an alternate delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City
2004 Republican National Convention
The 2004 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York...
.
Panio was appointed to the NYS Watershed Protection and Partnership Council by Governor George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
, served on the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Committee on Small Business, and also as Chairperson for the 19th Congressional District
New York's 19th congressional district
United States House of Representatives, New York District 19 is located in the southern part of the state of New York. District 19 lies north of New York City and is composed of parts of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester Counties, in addition to the entirety of Putnam County.District 19...
’s Senior Task Force. She is a member of the Yorktown Conservation Board and sits on the board of directors for Hudson Valley Hospital Center. Panio has received the Josh Hand Award in 1998, the Croton Watershed
Croton River
The Croton River is a river in southern New York that begins where the East and West Branches of the Croton River meet a little way downstream from the Croton Falls Reservoir...
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
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
.
Panio is involved in many local civic activities, and is the Vice-President of the Peekskill, NY Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, 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. She is also fluent in Italian.
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
Yorktown, New York
Yorktown is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the suburbs of New York about north of midtown Manhattan. The town lies on the north border of Westchester County...
. She was quickly endorsed by the Town Committee which she chairs.
Electoral history
- Panio also ran on the Conservative Party of New YorkConservative Party of New YorkThe Conservative Party of New York State is an American political party active in the state of New York. It is not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the American Conservative Party, which it predates by over 40 years....
ticket.