Former NY Governor George Pataki is making his political presence known in the Westchester elections of 2021. Pataki, the last republican to win statewide office, (in 2002), is supporting republican candidates for office across the county.
Some have speculated that Pataki, who ran for President in 2016, wants to return to public life and perhaps run for Governor again. Others say that Pataki wants to push back on the progressive agendas being pushed in New York City, Albany and in Washington.
Another reason may be because Pataki wants to be a part of an effort to keep the Westchester GOP alive with candidates running for office across the county. Or maybe the reason is a combination of all three.
One republican candidate that we agree with Pataki on, and endorse for election Nov. 3 is Joe Torres, candidate for Westchester County legislator in district 1- (Peekskill and Cortlandt Manor). Torres is a former Peekskill City Councilmember who has positive experience serving in government.
“When I started as a Peekskill City Councilman, we were in a dire financial situation. Raising taxes wasn’t going to pay the bills. We had to remove the obstacles for starting a business and find entrepreneurs to open up businesses in the city. Eventually businesses came, residents benefited from having new shopping and restaurant options, and we increased our tax base substantially,” said Torres, who also called for a county board for first responders, “That will advocate and listen to our first responders, and ensure they have the resources they need to deal with a natural disaster.”
The revitalization of the Peekskill waterfront also began when Torres served on the council. “We had vision for Peekskill to be the first riverfront community along the Hudson in Westchester to create a continuous River Walk from the southern to the northern border of the city. Seven years ago, we showed our ability to come together as a city to get things done.”
Former Peekskill Mayor John Testa, a republican, represented this district on the county board for years and Peekskill is where Governor Pataki grew up and served in government. Democratic Legislator Colin Smith is completing his first term.
We believe Torres to have the needed government experience to serve on the county board. We also believe that Torres can serve and work with the democratic supermajority on the county board that he would join if elected.
We hope that Torres joins Legislator Margaret Cunzio on the County Board next year. Cunzio, a registered conservative, is running on the republican line, and has served as a one woman republican minority on the BOL, with democrats currently holding a 16-1 super majority.
Cunzio is another example of how you can work together in County government while still representing another party. We endorse her re-election.
