Astorino Rides Again, Overcomes Sharp Bramson Challenge

Republican incumbent Rob Astorino won a second term as County Executive November 5 with a comfortable margin.

Republican incumbent Rob Astorino won a second term as County Executive November 5 with a comfortable margin. He fought off a spirited challenge from New Rochelle’s Democratic Mayor Noam Bransom. With 100% of the vote counted, Astorino won 98,461 votes (56%) to 77,382 (44%).

The campaign pitted two starkly contrasting styles and political viewpoints. Astorino asserted his conservative Republican views on keeping taxes low, making government leaner and more efficient, and being willing to tussle with HUD, rather than submit to what he sees as over-reaching by the federal government in local zoning laws to build affordable housing. Bramson, proudly demonstrated his liberal credentials and his reviving of downtown New Rochelle, and with endorsements by Governor Cuomo, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, as well as Westchester resident former president Bill Clinton.

Neither candidate lacked confidence and both constantly attacked. The two campaigns traded daily attacks that often veered from being political to being more personal.

They disagreed on the approach to remaking Playland into an attractive magnet for visitors that would finally rid the County of the need to cover its annual deficits. Astorino has consistently championed the plans put forth by Sustainable Playland Inc. (SPI), even as the County’s democratically controlled Board of Legislators argued that he had no right to sign agreements with SPI. Bramson was wary of an approach that ignored the Board of Legislators and wanted to work more closely with them on a plan.

But, as the clock ticks away in the County’s game with SPI, which can walk away from any commitment in January if a deal is not finalized by then, the election gives Astorino an argument that there has been enough dallying, that voters have spoken, and its time to move on.

And, in Westchester, taxes or the fear of higher taxes is always issue number one, and maybe two and three as well. Voters seemed to say that they prefer Astorino known aversion any threat to the tax cap.