Robert P, Astorino, whose message of reining in property taxes propelled him to re-election in November, was sworn in for a second term as county executive Wednesday, as expectations of a gubernatorial run continue to swirl.
Astorino, joined by his wife Sheila and three children, renewed his oath of office at a ceremony held at the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains. Astorino said his first election in 2009 had been a referendum on taxes and his re-election was a referendum on the work he has done so far.
“Everything we do every day when we come to work here is to better this county, to make it easier for people to live here and raise their family here, and for businesses to open up and to flourish,” he said. “So that”™s what we will continue to do every day.”
Astorino won election as a Republican last year with 56 percent of the total vote despite Westchester”™s increasingly Democratic leaning. Registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than 100,000 voters in the county, but Astorino beat challenger Noam Bramson by 20,000 votes, according to Board of Elections tallies.
Astorino has confirmed he is exploring a run for governor this year against Democrat Andrew Cuomo, who is seeking his second term. Astorino has reportedly already spoken about the run with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is likely to seek the GOP nod for president in 2016. Astorino’s candidacy has been picked up by national publications, including the New York Times, which noted a November 2013 Siena College poll that showed unseating Cuomo would be no easy task.
In the meantime, Astorino awaits new leadership on the county Board of Legislators, after his first four years were marked by a contentious relationship with Chairman Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat. Jenkins over the years launched seven procedural lawsuits against Astorino, who Jenkins felt had illegally bypassed the authority of the legislative branch in several decisions.
Democrat Michael Kaplowitz of Somers is expected on Jan. 6 to be named new chairman by a coalition majority that includes Kaplowitz, Yonkers Democrat Virginia Perez and the seven Republicans on the 17-member board. Kaplowitz and the expected vice chairman, Republican Jim Maisano of New Rochelle, have said they wanted to avoid such suits during the upcoming legislative session.
Astorino came into office January 2010 after an upset win against 12-year incumbent Andy Spano, a Democrat. He had previously served in the town of Mount Pleasant as a councilman and had a career in radio, including having been executive producer of “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio.
The county executive serves a four-year term at an annual salary of $160,670.
