Jonathan Bandler | lohud | Apr, 21, 2021
A Mount Vernon lawyer trying to get on the Democratic primary ballot for city council was arrested after allegedly threatening Councilwoman Janice Duarte over her brother’s objections to his nominating petitions.
Gregory Cannata, 69, the chairman of the city’s Board of Ethics, was arraigned Tuesday on two misdemeanor charges of third-degree attempted coercion after he was accused of threatening to ruin Duarte if her brother did not withdraw his objections.
According to a complaint filed by an investigator with the Westchester District Attorney’s Office, Cannata told Duarte in an April 9 phone conversation there would be consequences to the challenge, and that if the objections were not withdrawn it would be his “singular focus” to make sure she did not win in the primary and that he would be “ruthless” about contacting fellow Democrats not to vote for her.
