Betrayal from Within: Are Mount Vernon’s Democratic Candidates Undermining the Party?

When you think nothing can add more confusion and dysfunction, Mount Vernon leadership never disappoints. It is more than a procedural formality—it is a reflection of unity, trust, and accountability. It is earned through engagement with community stakeholders, district leaders, and voters who expect candidates to uphold not only shared values but a commitment to the party structure that represents them. When Democratic-endorsed candidates choose to also run on another political line, it is more than just a strategy—it is a betrayal of the party’s unity, its delegates, and its process.

Recent developments have made this betrayal even more troubling. Candidates such as Danielle Browne (for City Judge), Cathlin Gleason (for City Council), and Darren Morton (for Comptroller) According to print material from Rise Up Mount Vernon, an entity that, according to reports, does not legally exist as a registered political committee with the New York State Board of Elections.

Darren Morton reach out to Black Westchester immediately and sent this statement:

I was made aware of this campaign literature has given the impression that I am part of a political ticket other than the one officially endorsed by the Mount Vernon City Democratic Committee.  I want to be absolutely clear: I am not a part of any other ticket.

I am proudly running for Comptroller as a candidate endorsed by the Mount Vernon City Democratic Committee, which includes the following candidates: Caitlin Gleason – City Council, Andre Wallace – City Council, Teneisa Walters – City Council, Danielle Browne – City Judge.

I am committed to serving the people of Mount Vernon with transparency, accountability, and integrity. Any suggestion otherwise is misleading and does a disservice to the voters and the democratic process.

Thank you for your continued support and for being engaged in shaping the future of our city.

This raises serious legal and ethical concerns. Under New York Election Law, any organization that raises or spends funds to influence elections must register as a political committee and file financial disclosures. “Rise Up Mount Vernon” has not done so, yet it has been actively campaigning, endorsing candidates, and distributing political mailers—including during the recent school board elections. There have also been complaints circulating on social media that churches have conducted robocalls and sent out mass emails in support of specific candidates. This not only violates New York State Election Law but may also trigger violations under federal law, particularly if tax-exempt religious institutions are engaging in partisan political activity, which is prohibited under the IRS code for 501(c)(3) organizations.

Even more troubling is that the Mayor of Mount Vernon has appeared on campaign flyers endorsing school board candidates backed by Rise Up Mount Vernon—an unregistered political entity. This kind of visible alignment by an elected executive with an unregistered group further erodes public trust and signals normalization of behavior that disregards state and federal law.

These actions, if verified, represent a broader pattern of lawlessness and disregard for campaign finance transparency. They appear to violate Election Law §14-100 and §14-126, which require registration, reporting, and transparency from any political entity involved in electoral influence, and could also draw scrutiny from the IRS and the U.S. Department of Justice for potential abuse of nonprofit status or election interference. If Rise Up Mount Vernon is, a registered political committee or authorized campaign organization, then it should have no problem producing the paperwork to prove it. Let the public see the registration documents and the list of donors. Until then, voters and investigators have every reason to question the legitimacy and legality of its involvement, which requires registration, reporting, and transparency from any political entity involved in electoral influence.

If confirmed, these actions could subject the individuals involved—including both the organization and any candidates running under its banner—to civil penalties or even criminal liability. These violations can be reported not only to the New York State Board of Elections but also to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, which has the authority to investigate and prosecute election law infractions.

Moreover, the financial activity surrounding Rise Up Mount Vernon—whose sources of funding remain undisclosed and unregulated—amounts to the use of dark money. Political mailers and campaign support funded by an unregistered group with no transparent financial reporting violate the principles of fair elections. When voters cannot see who is paying to influence their choices, the entire democratic process is compromised. The presence of dark money not only erodes trust but gives unfair advantage to candidates who are willing to bypass the rules to gain power. This kind of covert funding undermines democratic transparency and should not be ignored. The flow of untraceable money influencing local elections should be thoroughly investigated by the Westchester County District Attorney or, if necessary, by the U.S. Department of Justice to determine whether campaign finance laws or broader anti-corruption statutes have been violated.

Candidates such as Danielle Browne, who is currently serving as a City Council member, in the opinion of many Mount Vernon residents, should never have received the endorsement for City Judge. That endorsement came at the expense of sitting Judge Peter Davis, a highly qualified legal professional with years of courtroom experience and a distinguished record as a former Westchester County Assistant District Attorney. Overlooking Judge Davis not only sidelined judicial experience and public trust but also raised serious concerns about how political favors are prioritized over qualifications in Mount Vernon’s endorsement process. What’s more, Danielle Browne’s decision to turn her back on the party endorsement by running on an additional slate or political ticket against a sitting judge with deeper experience than her own reflects not just political calculation, but a troubling lack of integrity and character. It reveals a willingness to undermine institutional stability and party unity in pursuit of personal ambition. That is not what Mount Vernon needs in a judge.

This is not the first time Councilwoman Cathlin Gleason has disregarded the will of the Democratic Party. The saying goes, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” What’s equally concerning is that the Mount Vernon City Committee Chair would allow this kind of behavior a second time, despite past betrayal. But ultimately, it speaks to the character and integrity of the candidate herself. When an individual repeatedly puts personal ambition over party unity and public trust, it’s no longer a strategic misstep—it’s a pattern of disrespect.

Beyond legality, this conduct reflects a deeper issue: a disregard for the process that Democratic voters participated in when they trusted their party to vet and endorse candidates. When those same candidates then appear on ballots under alternative, unregistered lines, it confuses voters, fractures the party base, and undermines the committee’s credibility. It also encourages factionalism and sets a dangerous precedent where future candidates may feel free to disregard the party structure altogether.

Running against the party is part of the democratic process—I support that wholeheartedly. However, I cannot support lobbying the Democratic Party for its endorsement, only to then align with a different political group once that endorsement is secured. That’s not strategy—that’s deception. It undermines the trust of party leadership, district leaders, and the very voters who expect transparency and consistency. If you’re going to run against the party, then run against the party. But don’t seek the party’s blessing only to betray it. That kind of duplicity reflects a troubling lack of character and forces voters to ask: where do you really stand, and who are you really loyal to?

It’s the integrity of the democratic process in Mount Vernon. Suppose we allow political opportunism to override structure and tolerate election law violations under the guise of strategy. In that case, we risk collapsing the institutions designed to bring order, unity, and transparency to local governance.

If party unity is to mean anything in Mount Vernon, then we must defend it—not only with words, but with standards. That begins with calling out actions that disrespect the party, its delegates, and the law.

The question now is: What is the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee Chair going to do? The City Chair has several clear and urgent options. They can publicly revoke endorsements from candidates who have undermined the party by running on additional lines. They can initiate a full review of district leaders to ensure they live in the districts they represent. The Chair can also demand accountability from unregistered political fronts like Rise Up Mount Vernon by calling for public disclosure of “Dark Money” funding sources and legal registration documents. A letter should be immediately sent to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for apparent violations of Election Law §14-100 and §14-126. These actions would send a powerful message that the party takes integrity seriously.

If Rise Up Mount Vernon is engaging in political activities without proper registration and disclosure, and if churches are participating in political campaigns, these actions may constitute violations of federal laws. Such violations undermine the integrity of the electoral process and erode public trust. It is imperative for the appropriate authorities, including the FEC and the IRS, to investigate these matters to ensure compliance with federal laws and regulations.

If the Chair fails to act, then technically, there is no functioning party. A party without rules or consequences is not a party at all—it is a political brand ripe for hijacking. Anyone can create a name, run candidates, and tear apart what little structure remains. Without leadership and enforcement, the Democratic Party in Mount Vernon becomes nothing more than a hollow label—one that invites chaos and self-interest to replace unity and accountability.

Black Westchester reached out to Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee (MVDCC) Chair Mary Graves before publishing this editorial, and only one of the three candidates mentioned sent a statement. The MVDCC may be putting out its statement; if they do, we will share that with you as well.

Black Westchester will continue to follow this closely. If serious legal violations come to light and local authorities fail to take appropriate action, as Publisher of Black Westchester, I will consider informing Pam Bondi and the U.S. Attorney General to ensure accountability within the political and justice systems.

Full disclosure: an organization that the writer of this editorial is a part of publicly announced its support for Judge Peter Davis. However, this criticism is not political—it is ethical. It is rooted in the belief that integrity, transparency, and respect for process must matter more than personal connections or calculated endorsements.