New York – The race for New York State governor is highlighting a decade-long feud between Rob Astorino and a challenger, but not with present Governor Andrew Cuomo.
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Astorino’s feud is with Cuomo’s aide, Larry Schwartz, a man who Astorino has mentioned in various public appearances and has accused of offenses, both on personal and professional levels reports the Wall Street Journal (http://on.wsj.com/1tjWtO1).
Schwartz is the governor’s top aide in Albany and many times takes the lead in negotiations over the state budget or on major pieces of legislation.
The feud goes back to 2005, when Schwartz served as Andy Spano’s aide and helped him win the re-election, defeating Astorino.
A month before that election, Schwartz stated that, “Rob Astorino should be considered public enemy No. 1 by the people of Westchester” based on his record on tax issues after Astorino accused the Spano administration of “unprecedented negligence.”
An email exchange had also been made public between Astorino and an Entergy Corp. executive that suggested Astorino had received talking points. Schwartz wasted no time in commenting when he stated, “Geppetto had Pinocchio, and Entergy has Rob Astorino.
Astorino then filed formal complaints with the county Board of Ethics and Westchester’s Fair Campaign Practices Committee against Schwartz and another aide for Spano, saying they breached the public officers law by taking part in campaign activity while government officials. The committee ruled against Astorino.
During the last few months of Astorino’s bid for governor he has publicly criticized Schwartz for his involvement in a disturbance over building permits for Cuomo’s home and assigned seating at a press event.
Mr. Schwartz recently hinted at the hostility between himself and Astorino when asked about his bid for governor, saying, “I know the real Rob Astorino and for some reason, that appears to drive him crazy.”