Democrats want hearing on Astorino consulting income

Two Westchester County legislators want to hold public hearings to discuss the office time and outside business dealings of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Astorino is the Republican Party”™s gubernatorial candidate looking to unseat Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Since before Astorino formally announced his intention to run, county Democrats have accused the executive of neglecting his county duties in order to campaign across the state.

Legislators Peter Harckham and Ken Jenkins, both Democrats, also want Astorino to answer to a Daily News report that said he earned $30,000 as a consultant to Connecticut-based radio conglomerate Townsquare Media.

Harckham, who previously backed legislation to ask for Astorino”™s resignation in the midst of the campaign, said, “I think it”™s time for County Executive Astorino to come clean about a number of serious issues, including how much time each week he is devoting to campaigning and working as an outside consultant.”

The duo said Astorino needed an ethics waiver from the Board of Legislators to accept outside employment.

Bill O’Reilly, a campaign spokesman for Astorino, said Jenkins and Harckham “barked themselves out years ago.”

“The number of attacks they’ve made on County Executive Astorino over the past five years must now number in the hundreds,” O’Reilly said. Astorino’s contract for outside consulting was reviewed by legal counsel, he said.

“Certainly, Mr. Jenkins understands that; he has three separate jobs,” O’Reilly said.