[dropcap]R[/dropcap]ob Astorino, arguably Westchester’s highest profile Republican, threw his hat back into the political arena today formally launching a campaign for New York State Senate.
Astorino, the former two-term Westchester County executive, will attempt a comeback by looking to unseat Sen. Pete Harckham, a South Salem Democrat, in the state’s 40th Senate District, which includes areas of Westchester, Rockland and Dutchess counties.
Astorino, 53, lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife and three children.
“New York is being challenged as perhaps never before, and it’s imperative that taxpayers be vigorously defended in the coming legislative term,” he said in a statement announcing his candidacy. “There are many in Albany already calling for dramatic new tax hikes, and middle class families can’t afford to pay a penny more.”
With Westchester an increasingly difficult political landscape for Republicans—Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2019—Astorino will run on a familiar playbook of curbing taxes, something he did successfully as county executive. Under his watch, the county held the line on taxes; eight consecutive budgets required no increases to the tax levy. That feat was accomplished by his ability to gather bipartisan support within the county Legislature.
Astorino will also tout the addition of 44,000 new private sector jobs during his administration, while reducing the cost of the county’s workforce. And he plans to push for term limits and new ethics laws.
“So much is happening so fast, it’s tough to take it all in,” he said. “But New York’s troubles didn’t start with the coronavirus lockdown, they’ve been building up for far too long. Record deficits, highest taxes in America, one million New Yorkers fleeing the state in just the past 10 years.”
For months Astorino was rumored to be mulling another political run after losing a re-election bid in 2017 to George Latimer, a Democrat. His name was also mentioned as a possible candidate for Congress with the opening of Nita Lowey’s seat. Lowey, a longtime U.S. representative, announced last year that she would be retiring from politics.
By setting his sights on state government, Astorino will be turning his attention to an old foe.
An outspoken critic of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Astorino failed to upset Cuomo in a 2014 gubernatorial run. But he’s also been critical of the state Legislature’s progressive policies, most recently its bail reform agenda—which Cuomo singed into law earlier this year—that eliminates the bail requirement for suspects arrested on most misdemeanors, including burglary and stalking, even if they pose a threat to the community.
Controversy ensued earlier this month in New York City after late-night rioters began looting stores in New York City following mostly peaceful protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. At the time, Astorino called for the new bail system to be suspended immediately labeling it an “ill-conceived criminal justice blunder” after the NYPD reported that most arrested would be back on the streets the following day. Astorino said he’d work to repeal the “reckless” cashless bail law.
“New York is in turmoil right now, and there’s a critical need for firm, measured voices in the state legislature,” he said. “Peaceful protesters should be respected. We should encourage thoughtful dialogue and all sides of a debate must be heard. Violence, rioting, vandalism and those seeking unrest and anarchy, however, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Harckham, in his first term in the state Senate, welcomed Astorino to the race on Thursday. “In 2018… I was elected to the State Senate because voters rejected Donald Trump’s divisive and reckless politics,” Harckham said, referring to his close victory over Terrance Murphy, an incumbent Republican senator. “And I am confident the voters will send me back to Albany in November because they are even more ready this year to say ‘no’ to Trump and surrogates like his close friend Rob Astorino.”
After leaving politics, Astorino went back to his media roots, joining CNN as a paid national commentator. Previously, Astorino had worked at MSG Network and was one of the founders of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York as well as an executive producer of “The Michael Kay Show.”
He also worked as Cardinal Dolan’s delegate to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, a Catholic philanthropic organization serving the healthcare needs of the poor.
CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com
