George Latimer delivered his farewell address as Westchester County executive this week, before being sworn into Congress on Friday.
Latimer expressed gratitude in reflecting on his seven years at the helm of county government, calling himself “fortunate and blessed.” The longtime Rye resident acknowledged during his Monday speech in White Plains the contributions of his colleagues, appreciating their efforts and the collaborative work they had accomplished together.
A Democrat, Latimer prided his county administration on several achievements over his tenure, from fixing Memorial Field in Mount Vernon and Sprain Ridge pools in Yonkers, to building the Westchester Family Court in New Rochelle. He added EV charging stations across the county, electrified buses, and enacted free fares and saved lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I suspect I will return to this podium as a member of Congress to update you all on the progress in our nation’s capital, when the time is right,” he said. “We’ll continue to see each other across the communities we represent because it’s a never-ending campaign trail, which is the reality of holding a two-year term in office.”
His official resignation from county government took effect Thursday as he is set to take the oath of office for the heavily blue 16th Congressional District seat on Friday.
The more moderate Latimer beat out progressive incumbent Rep. Jamaal Bowman in an ugly Democratic primary in June, and then easily triumphed over Republican Dr. Miriam Levitt Flisser in November.
As he transitions to Washington, D.C., Latimer brings a 37-year political career with a broad range of experience, including serving on the Rye City Council, Westchester County Board of Legislators, both houses of the New York State Legislature, as well as his stint as county executive.
“I will never forget what I learned in this building, not ever,” Latimer said about the county government offices in White Plains. “I will still be found, alongside you, in the streets of Yonkers, Harrison, Tuckahoe, Co-op City, Hartsdale, Wakefield and Port Chester, proving through small things every day that democracy is still the best form of government known to mankind.”
Latimer’s final term — he was term limited from running again — was set to expire at the end of 2025. It is expected that Democrat Ken Jenkins, Latimer’s deputy county executive, will seek the seat in a special election. If Jenkins wins, he would become the first Black county executive in Westchester history.
Jake Dilemani, a Democratic strategist, said that while Jenkins could face a primary nuisance challenger this year, it’s unlikely that a sitting officeholder will step forward.
“If you have not yet started raising money to run for that seat, it’s very late now to begin that process. Raising money is not easy. It takes a lot of money to run a countywide race,” Dilemani told The Record.
Although Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, a Democrat, was rumored to be considering a county executive run, he put out a statement following Latimer’s congressional win saying he would not seek the seat.
Richard Wishnie, the head of the county’s Department of Energy Services, was sworn in as acting county executive on Thursday and will remain in the role until Monday, Jan. 6, when the Westchester County Board of Legislators will vote to designate a county executive and set the date for the special election.