Bernadette Castro
Encyclopedia
Bernadette Castro is a New York
politician and businesswoman who served in the Cabinet of former Governor
George Pataki
. She was the heir and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Castro Convertibles, a sofa business in New Hyde Park, New York
. Castro sold the company to Krause Furniture in 1993. As a child, she appeared in commercials for the company where she would pull out a sofa bed.
Bernadette Castro recorded several singles in the 1960s for Columbia Pictures' Colpix Records
recording subsidiary including a girl group-style record which hit the national charts, "A Girl In Love Forgives." Fans of the genre say this is one of the few girl group
records that can compete with the Shangri Las' and Ronettes' best work. She released an additional single on Colpix called "Sports Car Sally," popular among many girl group collectors for its hot-rod theme.
Castro attended the University of Florida
earning a B.S. degree in Broadcast Journalism
and a graduate degree in Secondary School Administration with Phi Kappa Phi
honors. In 1985 she became the first woman to receive the University of Florida
’s Distinguished Service Alumni Award.
Bernadette Castro is married to Dr. Peter M. Guida, professor of surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and presently resides in Lloyd Harbor, New York
. She has four children, Terri, David, Jonathan and Bernard, and eight grandchildren.
nominee for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
. She was viewed as a longshot candidate. Ultimately, Ms. Castro lost the race and was fined $22,000.00 by the Federal Election Commission
for "failing to file timely finance reports for hundreds of thousands of dollars she lent to her own failed campaign."
In 1995, the newly elected Pataki appointed Castro as the state Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. As a part of her duties overseeing state parks, Castro also served as the state's historic preservation officer. She served as Parks Commissioner for the entire 12 years of the Pataki Administration.
The prestigious U.S. Open
golf tournament was played at Bethpage State Park
during Castro's tenure.
President George W. Bush
named Castro to a federal advisory committee on historic preservation
issues. In 2004 it was reported that she declined the chance to run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Charles Schumer
. In his final weeks in office, Pataki named Castro to a nine-year term on the board that oversees state parks on Long Island
.
There was some public criticism over Castro's approval of a long-term concession license with Donald Trump
at Jones Beach State Park
as well as Castro's promise to convert Kings Park State Hospital into a state park. The closed hospital site requires environmental remediation.
, who was in a public feud with Pataki. Castro once did a radio debate with McCaughey Ross.
.
Castro, who had previously served on the Governor's Task Force on Casino Gambling (1996) and was presently a member of the ad hoc Committee on the Future of Racing (2005-2007), was intended to be designated as chair of the board. The Racing and Wagering Board seat, a full time position, carried a fixed term which would have allowed Castro to remain in state government after Pataki left office in January 2007. The board has three seats of six-year duration. Only two seats may be occupied by a member of any single political party. At the time of her nomination, two of the seats were held by a Republican and Independent; the vacant seat, however, had a term of only two years remaining. Pataki had tried to get the sitting Republican member to step down to allow for Castro's appointment to a seat of greater term than the vacant seat. This did not occur and State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
declined to bring Castro's nomination to the floor. Ultimately, Castro's nomination was withdrawn.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
politician and businesswoman who served in the Cabinet of former Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
. She was the heir and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Castro Convertibles, a sofa business in New Hyde Park, New York
New Hyde Park, New York
New Hyde Park is a village in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island.The population of the Village of New Hyde Park was 9,712 at the 2010 census...
. Castro sold the company to Krause Furniture in 1993. As a child, she appeared in commercials for the company where she would pull out a sofa bed.
Bernadette Castro recorded several singles in the 1960s for Columbia Pictures' Colpix Records
Colpix Records
Colpix Records was the first recording company for Columbia Pictures–Screen Gems. Colpix got its name from combining Columbia and Pictures . It was founded by Jonie Taps and Harry Cohn in 1958, and was based in New York City. Paul Wexler headed the label. Stu Phillips was in charge of A&R...
recording subsidiary including a girl group-style record which hit the national charts, "A Girl In Love Forgives." Fans of the genre say this is one of the few girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
records that can compete with the Shangri Las' and Ronettes' best work. She released an additional single on Colpix called "Sports Car Sally," popular among many girl group collectors for its hot-rod theme.
Castro attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
earning a B.S. degree in Broadcast Journalism
Broadcast journalism
Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast methods include radio , television , and, especially recently, the Internet generally...
and a graduate degree in Secondary School Administration with Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
honors. In 1985 she became the first woman to receive the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
’s Distinguished Service Alumni Award.
Bernadette Castro is married to Dr. Peter M. Guida, professor of surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and presently resides in Lloyd Harbor, New York
Lloyd Harbor, New York
Lloyd Harbor is a village in Suffolk County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the village population was 3,675.The Village of Lloyd Harbor is in the Town of Huntington.-History:...
. She has four children, Terri, David, Jonathan and Bernard, and eight grandchildren.
Political career
In 1994, Castro was the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick Moynihan
Daniel Patrick "Pat" Moynihan was an American politician and sociologist. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected to the United States Senate for New York in 1976, and was re-elected three times . He declined to run for re-election in 2000...
. She was viewed as a longshot candidate. Ultimately, Ms. Castro lost the race and was fined $22,000.00 by the Federal Election Commission
Federal Election Commission
The Federal Election Commission is an independent regulatory agency that was founded in 1975 by the United States Congress to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the United States. It was created in a provision of the 1975 amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act...
for "failing to file timely finance reports for hundreds of thousands of dollars she lent to her own failed campaign."
In 1995, the newly elected Pataki appointed Castro as the state Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. As a part of her duties overseeing state parks, Castro also served as the state's historic preservation officer. She served as Parks Commissioner for the entire 12 years of the Pataki Administration.
The prestigious U.S. Open
U.S. Open
The term U.S. Open or US Open is applied to "open" United States-hosted championships in a particular sport , in which anyone, amateur or professional, American or non-American, may compete....
golf tournament was played at Bethpage State Park
Bethpage State Park
Bethpage State Park is a New York state park on the border of Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island. The park contains tennis courts, picnic and recreational areas and a polo field, but is best known for its five golf courses, including the Bethpage Black Course, which hosted the 2002...
during Castro's tenure.
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
named Castro to a federal advisory committee on historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
issues. In 2004 it was reported that she declined the chance to run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in 1998, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55%–44%. He was easily re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71%–24% and in 2010 by a...
. In his final weeks in office, Pataki named Castro to a nine-year term on the board that oversees state parks on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
There was some public criticism over Castro's approval of a long-term concession license with Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
at Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of New York. It is located in southern Nassau County, in the hamlet of Wantagh, on Jones Beach Island, a barrier island linked to Long Island by the Meadowbrook State Parkway, Wantagh State Parkway and Ocean Parkway .The park is renowned for...
as well as Castro's promise to convert Kings Park State Hospital into a state park. The closed hospital site requires environmental remediation.
Betsy McCaughey Ross
During Pataki's first term, Castro was very public in her criticism of the performance of then Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey RossBetsy McCaughey Ross
Betsy McCaughey , formerly known as Betsy McCaughey Ross, was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1995 to 1998, during the first term of Governor George Pataki. She unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party nomination for Governor after Pataki dropped her from his 1998 ticket.An...
, who was in a public feud with Pataki. Castro once did a radio debate with McCaughey Ross.
Racing and Wagering Board Nomination
In late 2005, Pataki nominated Castro to become a member of the New York State Racing and Wagering BoardNew York State Racing and Wagering Board
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board is the official governing body that oversees horse racing, charitable gaming, and Indian casino gaming in New York State...
.
Castro, who had previously served on the Governor's Task Force on Casino Gambling (1996) and was presently a member of the ad hoc Committee on the Future of Racing (2005-2007), was intended to be designated as chair of the board. The Racing and Wagering Board seat, a full time position, carried a fixed term which would have allowed Castro to remain in state government after Pataki left office in January 2007. The board has three seats of six-year duration. Only two seats may be occupied by a member of any single political party. At the time of her nomination, two of the seats were held by a Republican and Independent; the vacant seat, however, had a term of only two years remaining. Pataki had tried to get the sitting Republican member to step down to allow for Castro's appointment to a seat of greater term than the vacant seat. This did not occur and State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno
Joseph Bruno
Joseph L. Bruno is an American businessman, and Republican politician. He was the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader. Most recently he also served as Lieutenant Governor of New York ....
declined to bring Castro's nomination to the floor. Ultimately, Castro's nomination was withdrawn.
1994 NYS Republican Ticket
- Governor: George PatakiGeorge PatakiGeorge Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
- Lieutenant GovernorLieutenant Governor of New YorkThe Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
: Elizabeth McCaugheyBetsy McCaughey RossBetsy McCaughey , formerly known as Betsy McCaughey Ross, was the Republican Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1995 to 1998, during the first term of Governor George Pataki. She unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Party nomination for Governor after Pataki dropped her from his 1998 ticket.An... - Comptroller: Herbert LondonHerbert London-Early life:He was born in Brooklyn, New York circa 1939 and attended Columbia University, graduating in 1960. Standing 6'5", he was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball League, but did not play for them because of injuries. He was a social studies secondary school teacher...
- Attorney GeneralNew York State Attorney GeneralThe New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
: Dennis VaccoDennis VaccoDennis C. Vacco is an American lawyer and politician. He graduated a B.A. from Colgate University in 1974, a J.D... - U.S. Senate: Bernadette Castro