Democrat Ken Jenkins won the Feb. 11 special election for Westchester county executive. Jenkins was deputy county executive in the administration of County Executive George Latimer, who was elected to Congress from New York’s 16th Congressional District. The County Board of Legislators had appointed Jenkins to serve as county executive pending the special election.
Jenkins now will continue serving as county executive for the unexpired portion of Latimer’s term and is expected to run for election for a full four-year term in November. Running against Jenkins in the special election was Republican Christine Sculti, who worked with former County Executive Rob Astorino when he was in office. Astorino endorsed Sculti during the run-up to the special election, while Latimer endorsed Jenkins.
Jenkins won 64% of the vote compared with 36% for Sculti. Jenkins had 57,590 votes to Sculti’s 32,856, according to the County Board of Elections.
Jenkins supporters gathered in White Plains to await the election results and then celebrated the victory. New York Gov Kathy Hochul was among those on hand, along with Mayors Mike Spano of Yonkers, Tom Roach of White Plains, Shawyn Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon, and others.
“There’s something noble about being willing to step up and put yourself on that ballot,” Hochul said.
Jenkins said that as he continued in the role of county executive he would be focused on issues such as creating more affordable housing, Westchester’s infrastructure, and holding down taxes and costs.
