Astorino Withdraws From League Of Women Voters Debate

ELMSFORD, NY — After initially agreeing to participate in the Oct. 30 League of Women Voters of Westchester candidates’ forum at Mercy College, County Executive Robert Astorino has decided not to show up. The forum was to include four candidates in two races, County Executive and County Clerk, organizers said.

According to League President Marylou Green, as of Sept. 22, all four county executive and county clerk candidates had agreed to the Oct. 30 debate. Because its nonpartisan policy does not allow the League to hold a forum for a race in which only one candidate appears, the organization is compelled to cancel the event.

Astorino, the Republican candidate for executive, was supposed to debate state Senator George Latimer, D-Rye, during the event. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Green said the cancellation was disappointing and unprecedented.

“Our time-proven format has consistently delivered civil and fair discourse. It provides candidates with equal opportunities to speak and the public with the chance to ask about their concerns,” she said.

The League appreciates the dean and administration at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry’s offer to host the debate. “This was to have been a program to engage first-time student voters,” Green said. “We regret the lost opportunity for these young people to participate in fair and open campaigns, and to hear and question candidates.”

A spokesman for Astorino said the county executive is doing three debates and three forums with Latimer.

“We wanted the final debate to be in Yonkers, the county’s largest city, and offered to get space there,” said spokesman Bill O’Reilly. “The League declined unfortunately, so we booked the final debate with News 12 that has good countywide coverage.”

Latimer said that incumbents and challengers owe it to the public to debate as many times as possible.

That way, he said, the widest number of people hear what they have to say.

“The fact that I debated 13 times last year demonstrates that I took my duties seriously,” Latimer said. “Rob Astorino, however, has always sought to control what people can ask him. He Knows he has a lot to answer for.

“No wonder he’s ducking debates and pulling out of commitments made,” he said.

Photo credit: Submitted.