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Who will you be voting for in the 2017 Westchester County Executive race?
- Rob Astorino
- George Latimer
Cuomo, a Democrat, announced his endorsement of Astorino's opponent, Senator George Latimer. (D-Rye). Astorino, a Republican who is running for a third term, unsuccessfully ran against Cuomo for governor in 2014.
"The alt-right has come to Westchester with a million-dollar money bomb to prop up one of Trump's most loyal supporters, Rob Astorino," said Governor Cuomo. "He was an early backer of Trump and he represents the same ideology, but we cannot let the Alt-right all-stars of Trump, [former White House advisor Steve] Bannon and Astorino dictate Westchester policies for the next four years. Every vote for George Latimer is a vote against the Trump-Astorino agenda."
Robert Mercer, who helped fund Breitbart, a far-right news site, recently donated $1 million to a Super PAC endorsing Astorino. Astorino formally endorsed Trump for president after the primary season ended.
Since losing to Cuomo, Astorino has remained a frequent critic of the governor and there is speculation he will once again run against Cuomo next year.
Bill O'Reilly, a spokesman for Astorino, dismissed Cuomo's endorsement.
"Only in New York would a governor endorse a man who owes five years and nearly $50,000 in back property taxes, simply because he's in the same political party," O'Reilly said. "Gov. Cuomo has a $4 billion budget deficit and an administration ridddled with corruption. He might want to take care of his job before criticizing an administration that actually works."
A home owned by Latimer's wife in Rye owes more than $46,000 in back taxes.
Last Friday, Hillary Clinton announced her endorsement of Latimer.
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