Latimer To Challenge Astorino For County Executive

RYE, NY — State Senator George Latimer, D-Rye, will challenge Robert Astorino for Westchester county executive.

In announcing his candidacy Monday, Latimer said his 30 years in public service and 20 years as a business executive gave him the right experience to bring back the fiscal strength and leadership the county needs.

“What happened to Westchester? That’s the question we need to answer,” he said.

“We have so much skill and talent in our county, so many hard-working people and so many families hoping for a better tomorrow,” Latimer said.

He said the county has been saddled with long-term fiscal problems due to short-sighted, ideological decision-making that has mortgaged its future.

“We need leaders who are willing to do the hard work and make the tough choices to right this ship,” Latimer said.

County Legislator Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers, announced his candidacy for county executive in August 2016.

Latimer said his campaign will focus on issues such as fiscal soundness, infrastructure, environmental protection, fair taxation, long-term planning and fighting opioid addiction.

He acknowledged that Astorino is a skilled politician.

“I’m just a guy from Westchester who know that we need hard work, practical solutions and an end to personal politics to make Westchester an even better place to live and work,” Latimer said.

Photo caption: George Latimer at his Jan. 2017 swearing-in ceremony for state Senate. Photo credit: Submitted.