Greg Ball ran one great campaign, he will make a great assemblyman. Congrats to Greg and I thank Stephens for doing the right thing in stepping down.

Pawling News Chronicle - Willis Stephens to withdraw from Assembly race
Assemblyman Willis Stephens who lost a GOP primary earlier this month to newcomer Greg Ball will withdraw from the race.

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Stephens’ announcement came Tuesday after receiving word that he had been nominated by the New York State Conservative Party to seek a State Supreme Court judicial post from Queens County.

Stephens admitted that his chances of winning the judgeship were a “long shot” but he said: “I will not resign from my Assembly position but will serve until the end of the year. I thank the Conservatives for their endorsement to the judgeship.”

Michael Long, New York State Conservative Party chairman, confirmed that Stephens had been nominated to the position at a judicial convention in New York City on Monday.

Running for a judicial seat is the only way except for moving out of the district or death that a name can be removed from the ballot. The effort is seen to unite GOP party unity. Stephens smiled and said: “Judge Stephens has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”

State election law does not stipulate a residency requirement for judicial candidates.

Stephens’ dad, Willis Stephens, who also served in the Albany post for 30 years added: “I think Will would make a fine judge but I don’t think he has much of a chance of winning.” The elder Stephens who served for a time as chairman of the powerful Assembly Ways and Means Committee, was a member of the state Legislature from 1953 to 1982. The current assemblyman’s late grandfather, Mallory Stephens, served in the Assembly from 1925 to 1952.

For 69 years a member of the Stephens family had served in the New York State Assembly. The impressive string came to an abrupt end following Ball’s decisive victory.

Ball crushed the 12 year veteran by a tally of 4,590 to 1,842 in 129 voting districts in Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester