DONE DEAL: Richard St. Paul Locks Up GOP Nomination, Prepares to Battle Bramson for Mayor, Convention Tonight

City Council Member Richard St. Paul has locked up the unanimous support of the Republican Party and will accept the party’s nomination tonight at the GOP Convention at the Radisson Hotel in downtown New Rochelle.

St. Paul has long been the odds-on-favorite to run for Mayor, more so after the Democrats “redistricted” St. Paul out of his own district. Under the Democratic redistricting plan, passed by the Council in a party-line vote several weeks ago, St. Paul was moved out of District 4 into District 1. Richard St. Paul and Noam Bramson have often sparred in City Council sessions. Council Member Lou Trangucci, the District 1 incumbent, is already preparing to run against former Council Member Roberto Lopez who had represented District 4 until he was defeated by St. Paul in 2007.

The decision ends several days of political maneuvering in the event St. Paul did not run.

While St. Paul considered his options over the past week, two candidates stepped forward to offer themselves as candidates in the event St. Paul opted not to run. St. Paul informed the two potential candidates, Steve Mayo and Kurt Collucci, of his decision and both informed St. Paul they would withdraw from consideration. Steve Mayo is expected to run in District 6 against newcomer Shari Rackman for the seat given up by Marianne Sussman.