Racist flier casts shadow over Port Chester election

A racist flier circulated around Port Chester could have some career-damaging consequences for a school board candidate who faces re-election.
Dominic Bencivenga, a four-term school board member, is up for re-election Tuesday, May 15. He denies having anything to do with the flier, which rails against the village's large Hispanic population and Mayor Dennis Pilla. The flier first surfaced in March, before the mayoral election.
According to published reports, Bencivenga's colleague, Bart Didden, named the school board member as one of the authors during his deposition for a separate lawsuit against the village.
Pilla says he's ready to move beyond the divisiveness. "It seems like it was really a long time ago. I think it's time for Port Chester to move on and for the village to become united and that's what I'm looking forward to doing," Pilla said.
A federal suit against the village's "at-large" election system gets underway in White Plains Monday, May 21. The government argues the village disenfranchises the Hispanic voter.