Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has high hopes the Indian-American and South Asian communities in New York will support his candidacy for governor come Nov. 4. Pitted against the heavily favored Democratic incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Astorino believes Indian-Americans will crossover to vote for him because he’s done it before in his own county.
Amazing Relations
In an interview with News India Times Oct. 17, Astorino touted his close relations with Indian-Americans, lauded their values and accomplishments, and said he was for comprehensive immigration reform, family reunification, and bringing in high skilled workers to America.
Astorino who has twice won his seat in a Democratic majority county, believes he has demonstrated his ability to attract crossover votes, particularly among Independents and traditionally Democratic ethnic constituencies. But getting that support in Westchester may not necessarily translate to Jackson Heights, Queens. Last month, Astorino spent an afternoon at Jackson Heights in a bid to cover that gap. He attends Diwali and other festivals, and was among the politicos who spoke at this year’s South Side Seaport Diwali event.
“I have amazing relations with Indian-Americans and South Asians.” There is a very active Asian American Republican Club in Westchester he says, which he attends, and he has visited homes, been part of the Indian American Heritage Festival in Westchester and regularly interacts with the community. He noted he had appointed two Indian-Americans and the first-ever Muslim to the Westchester County Human Rights Commission.
“My Army” of Indian-Americans
Reeling off a string of names, he stops afraid to leave anyone out, he said. “I meet them often. They play an active role in my campaign. I call them ‘my army’.” They are attracted to him he said because “I listen to all sides. I want people to know my door is always open.” Besides, he said repeatedly during the interview, that Indian-Americans are the hardest working community he has encountered – entrepreneurial, in every field including medicine and engineering; focused on education, all in his view Republican operating principles.
Even as Democrats and some in his own Republican Party have shunned him for his conservative views in a state where Republicans become moderates to win seats, Astorino has embraced leaders like Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Jindal, a presidential aspirant, headlined Astorino’s Grand Central Station fundraiser Oct. 16, one that another presidential aspirant, New Jersey Gov. Chris was notably absent from.
“Chris is perfectly capable of speaking for himself. I’m here because I’ve been a long-time supporter of Rob’s. I know he’s going to do a great job as governor,” Jindal is quoted saying in a New York Observer news report.
Political Background
“He’s a reform candidate with a proven track record, unlike President Obama who when he ran had no executive experience. Rob’s got a proven track record,” Jindal added.
Before taking office as County Executive, Astorino was in radio. As station manager and program director of The Catholic Channel on Sirius-XM Satellite Radio and hosted a weekly radio show from St. Patrick’s Cathedral with the archbishop of New York. In 2001, he helped launch ESPN Radio in New York and became the station’s senior producer.
He was first elected to public office at age 21, serving as a member of the Mount Pleasant Board of Education. He went on to serve for 12 years as a councilman on the Mount Pleasant Town Board, including six years as deputy supervisor. In 2003, he was elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators. A graduate of Fordham University, he has also studied in Barcelona, Spain and is fluent in Spanish. He is a lifelong resident of Westchester, where he and his wife, Sheila, are raising three young children.
Profiling
Astorino spoke on the issue of how to balance interests of national security with profiling a community that has felt the Post 9/11 backlash the most. “I come from the point of view that most people are very good and are here for the right reason. Obviously some are bad apples. We have to find the right balance.”
“At the same time it is important that the Islamic community speak out when something happens,” Astorino said. “But it is also important that we stand with them in times of need.” He said the partnerships he has established with minorities would help in such a situation.
Immigration
Astorino took a liberal stand on immigration. “I have called for comprehensive immigration reform which Washington is screwing up,” he claimed. “We don’t want families to be torn apart, especially children who are born here or are here through no fault of their own.” Besides, all Americans were immigrants at one point or another in history he contended. “Plus, our economy needs immigrants, whether it is for manufacturing or high skilled. We are all immigrants. We have to respect people and at the same time go by the law of the land.”
Vote Your Values
Astorino appealed to Indian-Americans to vote their values at the ballot booth.
“People have to vote their value more than their party,” he said. “Often Indian-Americans’ values go with Republicans. They register as Democrats but are open to voting Republican,” he said.
“They are hardworking, entrepreneurial, emphasize education, and more inclined to be Republican. That’s why so many are there in my campaign,” he said. “We won 30 percent of the Democratic vote (for County Executive). I won it twice.” he pointed out.
It’s going to be tough to translate that victory to the state level despite Astorino’s claims he does not go by poll numbers. In August this year even after Gov. Cuomo’s poll numbers dipped by 5 percent following the scandal over his disbanding the Moreland Commission, a commission he had set up to investigate corruption, Cuomo was still far ahead of Astorino according to a poll jointly conducted by the Wall Street Journal, NBC 4 New York, and Marist College. Cuomo’s popularity rating stood at 53%. to Astorino’s 22 percent.