Despite its 2-to-1 Democratic leaning electorate, Westchester County has twice elected Republican Rob Astorino as its top executive over formidable opponents.
Rob Astorino, seeking another term, lost the 2014 gubernatorial race to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has endorsed #Yonkers State Senator George Latimer in his quest to unseat Astorino.
Rob Astorino’s popularity appears to be owed in large part to his fiscal policies, including keeping a campaign promise not to raise property taxes
But that may wane due to his vocal support for President Donald J. Trump and the political moment occurring one year after #Trump’s surprise win.
The Latimer-Astorino race has featured a lot of mud-slinging, including accusations of bribery, corruption, tax evasion, and the nefarious influence of outside money.
While Rob Astorino’s campaign has cast George Latimer as a delinquent state legislator and tax deadbeat,
George Latimer and his supporters are pointing to the infusion of $1 million in support of Rob Astorino from controversial billionaires Robert Mercer and Rebekah Mercer.
The race is seen as a toss-up by many, though polls have shown George Latimer with a slight lead.
As always, Westchester’s notoriously high property taxes are central to the policy debate, with both candidates vowing to keep rates stagnant.
But this year, at times overshadowing the discussion is whether Westchester’s socially liberal electorate -- which overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clintonin the 2016 presidential election -- will stick with an enthusiastic Trump supporter in Rob Astorino, who has sought to keep much of the campaign’s focus on his local record and on attacking George Latimer.
This race will have significant implications for New York State’s political landscape regardless of the outcome.
A George Latimer win, while it would be a victory for Westchester Democrats, would also deal a blow to state Senate Democrats who hope to retake that house, and therefore the entirety of state government.
In 2018. George Latimer’s open seat would trigger a special election that could see a member of the Independent Democratic Conference or a Republican take the seat.
For Rob Astorino, who is mulling another run for governor next year, the stakes are exceptionally high.
While the GOP county executive has had a lengthy run, if he loses, or even wins by a small margin, he may be forced to reconsider any gubernatorial ambitions.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/21/nyregion/county-executive-astorino-latimer-martins-curran-election.html
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