Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino”™s criticisms of New York”™s business climate will be a focus in his bid to unseat heavily favored incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
New York is losing jobs to other states and shedding population because of what Astorino called New York”™s “crazy cost of living and killer property taxes.”
“Living in New York shouldn”™t sound like a prison sentence, but that”™s too often what you hear today,” Astorino, a Mount Pleasant resident, said in a video announcing he was seeking the Republican nomination. “”˜Three more years and I”™m out of here,”™” he said. “”˜Once the kids finish high school we”™re headed south.”™”
The 6.5-minute video announcement, posted March 5 to Astorino”™s website, robastorino.com, was mostly a formality after the candidate had already created an “Astorino for Governor” committee and hired Michael Lawler, a high-profile GOP executive, to head his “exploratory” team.
A video message is an unusual, though not unprecedented, way to announce a major political candidacy. Its use put Astorino in the position of not holding a press conference and answering media questions, but rather issuing what was in many respects a lengthy campaign outline that resembled a televised commercial.
“I”™m Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and I”™m announcing my candidacy today for governor of New York state because I”™m tired of listening to the fairy tale that everything is just great when it”™s just the opposite,” he said. “I”™m tired of watching New York”™s decline.”
Astorino criticized the governor for a lack of a position on hydraulic fracturing, a method of using pressurized liquid to break rocks and mine natural gas. Cuomo, also a Westchester resident, hasn”™t taken a stance on the issue since he was first elected in 2010, saying that he won”™t make a decision on whether he is in favor or against the method until further studies are conducted.
Astorino said that he was in favor of allowing the fracturing, commonly known as “fracking,” which supporters say can economically revitalize upstate regions but continues to be opposed by many residents and environmental groups who fear it poses risks such as groundwater pollution. He also criticized a proposal by Cuomo to offer college education courses to those serving jail sentences.
In the video, Astorino said if elected he would replace the state”™s controversial Common Core educational curriculum, which he called a “disaster.” The candidate said he stood with the parents of charter school students just one day after New York City residents rallied in Albany over city cuts that hindered charter school growth and operation in the five boroughs.
“I”™ll have your back,” Astorino said. “We need more charter schools in New York not fewer.”
Astorino is the only Republican candidate to enter the race, although rumors still swirl about interest from billionaire and reality TV star Donald Trump as well as Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, who lost in a landslide against Cuomo in 2010”™s gubernatorial race. Paladino did win a primary election against the Republican Party”™s favored candidate that year, Rick Lazio.
Paladino has said publicly he”™d only support Astorino if he distanced himself from some state Republican leaders whose views did not jibe with conservative Republican platforms. Astorino is unlikely to criticize two of Paladino”™s targets, state party Chairman Ed Cox ”“ who has already donated $27,000 to Astorino”™s campaign ”“ and state Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos, who has offered support for Astorino”™s candidacy.
Astorino”™s announcement likely closes the door on a Trump candidacy. Trump, always considered by party insiders a longshot to follow through on a campaign, said he would only run if there was no competition for the nomination.
The GOP hasn”™t won a statewide election since the tenure of former Gov. George Pataki. Astorino emerged as front-runner for the nomination after handily winning re-election last year as a Republican in Westchester, where Democrats have a nearly two-to-one registration advantage.
Astorino twice won election in Westchester with support from many county business leaders on a platform of reining in spending and curbing property taxes. Though his opponents sought to accentuate his more conservative social views, Astorino often said those issues weren”™t relevant in a county race.
In a state race though, issues such as abortion may come into play in a more direct way for the candidate. No pro-life candidate has been elected in New York since the state first legalized abortion.
Astorino also faces an uphill climb in terms of fundraising. Cuomo had $33 million to Astorino”™s $1 million, in campaign finances according to filings with the State Boards of Elections.
