Westchester County Executive George Latimer was named one of City & State’s Top 50 Most Powerful New Yorkers over the age of 50. The story, which can be found at https://www.cityandstateny.com/power-lists/2022/01/2022-50-over-50/361314/
includes the following about Latimer.
“George Latimer developed his first policy position at age 9. The Latimers lived in Mount Vernon, but his father had been born in Brooklyn. Once he asked his father why he moved. “He scowled and said, ‘It’s near New York City. It’s not New York City,’” Latimer says. “In those two sentences, my father gave me my economic development plan.”
“After a detour to Fordham and NYU for graduate school, Latimer embarked on a career in sales and marketing. He utilized his corporate training to win over moderate suburban voters and was elected to the Rye City Council in 1987.
“Four years later, he flipped a Republican seat in the Republican-controlled Westchester County Legislature. Soon, he found himself in the majority as Democrats moved up from the city while conservatives relocated to Florida. “When Democrats come along and show we’re responsible, concerned about taxes and can deliver services properly, we get support on both aisles and in the middle,” Latimer says.
“After serving in the Assembly, Latimer ousted Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino in 2017. He retained most of Astorino’s commissioners, which surprised some observers. “I don’t consider myself a great leader – success in leadership is a function of hiring good people around you,” he says. “I didn’t treat it as politics first.”
“Containing COVID-19 is now Latimer’s top priority. He has avoided issuing mandates, but reduced spectators for school sports and opened testing sites. “We made it very easy to get vaccinated and tested,” he says, “but that’s being stretched right now since no jurisdiction is keeping up with the demand of testing,” writes City and State.
Latimer said, “I’m deeply honored by this. This lifetime achievement feels a little like Tom Brady, it’s time to retire, but I’m honored to be included with all of the other honorees. 34 years ago this month, I completed my first month in public office.”
“The continuing existence of small d democracy and will it survive? We are in a constant battle to solve the battles before us and convince all that democracy is the best way to move forward. We have faced vietnam, watergate, 9/11, and now COVID. Everytime we found a way to come together,” said Latimer
“It feels different today then when I started out in public life. It seems that people only believe the information that they want to believe and support their pre-determined views. The people that we disagree with we seem to see as our enemies. We came close in the 1930’s to embrace that lure of tyranny. But we stepped back from the abyss. Will we do so again?” said Latimer.
Latimer’s acceptance video can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fV-YN0RPQs
