Rob Astorino
Encyclopedia
Rob Astorino is the Westchester County Executive
and an American
media personality and politician
who is a radio host and program director
for the Catholic Channel on SIRIUS Satelitte Radio
. He was one of the founders of 1050 AM
ESPN Radio
in New York City
, and worked as the station's Executive Producer
, and as Executive Producer of the of The Michael Kay Show. He is also a television host on the MSG Network
.
Astorino served as a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators
from 2003 to 2005, when he launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat Westchester
County Executive
Andy Spano. In 2009, he was elected County Executive
as a Republican, defeating Andy Spano. He resides in Mount Pleasant
, New York
with his wife and two children.
where he attended Westlake High School
, and enrolled in Fordham University
where he received a Bachelors of Arts in Communications in 1989. At the age of twenty one, while attending college, he was elected to the Mount Pleasant Board of Education
, but resigned two years later to take a position at WFAS
radio in White Plains
. He later attended the Enforex School of International Studies in Barcelona, Spain where he became fluent in Spanish.
He is a member the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
. After graduating, he hosted the weeknight sports shows Inside Sports on WFAS radio, served as host and producer of Sports Rap on the Sports Channel
television network. In 2001, he helped launch ESPN Radio
in New York City
.
Astorino is also an anchor for the MSG Network
program Talk of our Town. He is the recipient of the Associated Press
award for Best Spot News Coverage and award for Best News Program, and the Metro New York Achievement in Radio award.
radio station to an all sports format. He became the station's Senior Producer, and worked as Executive Producer of The Michael Kay Show. He was promoted to Station Executive Producer and served until 2005, when he resigned to run for County Executive
.
As the producer of the 4 to 7 PM time slot, the team of talent assembled by Astorino included Michael Kay and Joey Salvia
, and helped the show in its success against long time afternoon sports radio mainstay Mike and the Mad Dog
on WFAN
. His accomplishments include securing broadcast rights for the New York Knicks
and New York Rangers
, also at the expense of WFAN.
for SIRIUS Satellite Radio's
The Catholic Channel
. He hosts a Thursday night program with Cardinal
Edward Egan, the archbishop
of the Archdiocese of New York.
Astorino was hesitant at first to work on religious radio, but he changed his mind when he found out the Catholic Channel would be different. He stated, "I think it's a great opportunity not just for the archdiocese but for the Catholic Church as a whole to reach out to people across the country with a message, and have a two-way conversation."
According to the Journal News, "With total authority over programming, the Archdiocese of New York was given the rare opportunity to play Michelangelo and create something new. Egan, who is not known to be a great communicator like his predecessor, Cardinal John O'Connor, gave the project his blessing. In addition to his show, he welcomes Sirius listeners when Sunday Mass from St. Patrick's Cathedral is broadcast."
and 8 years as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, which oversees the police department.
Westchester County Executive
Andrew O'Rourke
appointed Astorino to the Westchester County Board of Ethics in 1996, and he was reappointed by O'Rourke's successor, Andy Spano in 1999. He served one term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators
, and ran an aggressive campaign as a candidate for County Executive
in 2005. Astorino was among the finalists for Lieutenant Governor
to gubernatorial candidate
John Faso
in 2006.
Sue Swanson, who represented a district encompassing Mount Pleasant
, Pleasantville
, North Castle
, West Harrison
, and portions of northern Greenburgh
. Astorino defeated his challenger with an aggressive campaign, which according to the Journal News, "raised the bar" for candidacies to the Board of Legislators.
As a County legislator, Astorino was involved in plans to redevelop the Saw Mill River Parkway
and restore wetlands, which is often flooded dangerously during rain storms, and coordinated meetings between the environmentalist groups, New York State Department of Transportation
and the United States
Army
Corps of Engineers in 2005. He helped the board stop Westchester's payments of a "franchise fee" to their bus operator, Liberty Transit Inc., after drawing attention that the contract with the company did not provide for such a payment.
Once elected, he served on the committees for parks & recreation; housing; health; public & safety & criminal justice; youth; and county officers & departments. After serving only two years, Astorino opted not to run for reelection, instead focusing on a challenge to incumbent County Executive Andy Spano. As an outgoing legislator, he opposed the pay increases that were enacted for board members.
pitted the two-term Democratic
incumbent Andy Spano, against Astorino, a Republican
. The race featured instances where Astorino publicized a homemade video of a security breach at the County's Kenisco dam
, while the incumbent, according to the New York Times, "in the face of record property-tax increases, has busied himself with a campaign against steroids for schoolchildren, as a follow-up to an anti-bullying initiative that featured admonitions from Spider-Man."
As of 2008, real property taxes in Westchester have increased in Westchester by 54% since 2000. Making the tax issue the centerpiece of his campaign, he railed against two straight years of double digit property tax
increases in the county budget, and called Spano out of touch with voters, criticizing a visit to China
by Spano during the seven-week Bee Line Bus
strike
which cost taxpayers $3 million.
Facing an uphill battle in a Democratic County against an incumbent who raised four times as much money, Astorino made a surprisingly strong showing and was defeated by 30,000 votes. Overall voter turnout was light and incumbents were largely successful throughout the County.
Westchester County Executive
Westchester County Executive is the head of the executive branch of the Westchester County government. The county executive has power to veto acts of Westchester County Board of Legislators-History:...
and an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
media personality and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who is a radio host and program director
Program director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
for the Catholic Channel on SIRIUS Satelitte Radio
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
. He was one of the founders of 1050 AM
WEPN
WEPN is a 24-hour sports talk formatted radio station in New York City featuring national and local sports talk programs and live broadcasts of sports matches. It is the New York affiliate for ESPN Radio...
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and worked as the station's Executive Producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, and as Executive Producer of the of The Michael Kay Show. He is also a television host on the MSG Network
MSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
.
Astorino served as a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators
Westchester County Board of Legislators
The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County. The powers of the Board are enumerated in the County’s charter. A key power of the Board concerns finances: appropriating funds, approving the budget and levying taxes...
from 2003 to 2005, when he launched an unsuccessful bid to unseat Westchester
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
Andy Spano. In 2009, he was elected County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
as a Republican, defeating Andy Spano. He resides in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, New York
Mount Pleasant is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 43,724.-Geography:...
, New York
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...
with his wife and two children.
Early career and background
Astorino grew up in Thornwood, New YorkThornwood, New York
Thornwood is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Mount Pleasant in Westchester County, New York. The population was 3,759 at the 2010 census.-History:...
where he attended Westlake High School
Westlake High School (New York)
Westlake High School is located at 825 Westlake Drive in Thornwood, New York. Westlake is the High School serving the Mount Pleasant Central School District. The hamlets of Hawthorne and Thornwood are inclusive in the Mount Pleasant CSD. The hamlet of Valhalla and the village of Pleasantville...
, and enrolled in Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
where he received a Bachelors of Arts in Communications in 1989. At the age of twenty one, while attending college, he was elected to the Mount Pleasant Board of Education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
, but resigned two years later to take a position at WFAS
WFAS (AM)
WFAS is an AM radio station in Westchester County, New York and vicinity broadcasting on 1230 kHz. The station has a classic adult contemporary format and is under ownership of Cumulus Media. WFAS is also the home for Iona College Men's Basketball. Gary Stanley and Ed Ingles call all the...
radio in White Plains
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
. He later attended the Enforex School of International Studies in Barcelona, Spain where he became fluent in Spanish.
He is a member the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists , promo and voice-over announcers and other...
. After graduating, he hosted the weeknight sports shows Inside Sports on WFAS radio, served as host and producer of Sports Rap on the Sports Channel
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
television network. In 2001, he helped launch ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Astorino is also an anchor for the MSG Network
MSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
program Talk of our Town. He is the recipient of the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
award for Best Spot News Coverage and award for Best News Program, and the Metro New York Achievement in Radio award.
ESPN radio
In 2001, he was one of the founders of 1050 ESPN Radio in New York. He directed the rebranding of New York's WEVD-AM 1050 from a Walt DisneyWalt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
radio station to an all sports format. He became the station's Senior Producer, and worked as Executive Producer of The Michael Kay Show. He was promoted to Station Executive Producer and served until 2005, when he resigned to run for County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
.
As the producer of the 4 to 7 PM time slot, the team of talent assembled by Astorino included Michael Kay and Joey Salvia
Joey Salvia
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Joey Salvia is a singer, songwriter, and radio personality in New York City for ESPN's WEPN. Salvia can be heard the popular radio show, The Michael Kay Show, broadcast weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m...
, and helped the show in its success against long time afternoon sports radio mainstay Mike and the Mad Dog
Mike and the Mad Dog
Mike and the Mad Dog was an afternoon drive sports radio program based out of WFAN in New York City that featured Mike Francesa and Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo talking sports and taking phone calls from listeners. From 2002 onwards the show was simulcasted on the YES Network...
on WFAN
WFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
. His accomplishments include securing broadcast rights for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, also at the expense of WFAN.
Satellite radio
In 2007, Astorino was hired as the first program directorProgram director
In service industries, such as education, a program director or programme director researches, plans, develops and implements one or more of the firm's professional services...
for SIRIUS Satellite Radio's
Sirius
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. With a visual apparent magnitude of −1.46, it is almost twice as bright as Canopus, the next brightest star. The name "Sirius" is derived from the Ancient Greek: Seirios . The star has the Bayer designation Alpha Canis Majoris...
The Catholic Channel
The Catholic Channel
The Catholic Channel is a Catholic lifestyle radio station on Sirius XM Satellite Radio and is operated by the Archdiocese of New York. It carries daily and Sunday Mass live from St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, as well as talk shows, educational programming and a little bit of music. Timothy...
. He hosts a Thursday night program with Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Edward Egan, the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of New York.
Astorino was hesitant at first to work on religious radio, but he changed his mind when he found out the Catholic Channel would be different. He stated, "I think it's a great opportunity not just for the archdiocese but for the Catholic Church as a whole to reach out to people across the country with a message, and have a two-way conversation."
According to the Journal News, "With total authority over programming, the Archdiocese of New York was given the rare opportunity to play Michelangelo and create something new. Egan, who is not known to be a great communicator like his predecessor, Cardinal John O'Connor, gave the project his blessing. In addition to his show, he welcomes Sirius listeners when Sunday Mass from St. Patrick's Cathedral is broadcast."
Political career
In 1991, Astorino defeated an incumbent Town Councilman in Mount Pleasant and was elected to the town board. He was reelected in 1995 and 1999. During his tenure on the town board, he served six years as Deputy SupervisorTown supervisor
Town Supervisor is an elective legislative position in New York towns. Supervisors sit on the town board, where they preside over town board meetings and vote on all matters with no more legal weight than that of any other board member .Towns may adopt local laws that allow them to provide for an...
and 8 years as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, which oversees the police department.
Westchester County Executive
Westchester County Executive
Westchester County Executive is the head of the executive branch of the Westchester County government. The county executive has power to veto acts of Westchester County Board of Legislators-History:...
Andrew O'Rourke
Andrew O'Rourke
Andrew P. O'Rourke is a judge and politician from New York State. A Republican, he served as the County Executive of Westchester County, New York from 1983 to 1998....
appointed Astorino to the Westchester County Board of Ethics in 1996, and he was reappointed by O'Rourke's successor, Andy Spano in 1999. He served one term on the Westchester County Board of Legislators
Westchester County Board of Legislators
The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County. The powers of the Board are enumerated in the County’s charter. A key power of the Board concerns finances: appropriating funds, approving the budget and levying taxes...
, and ran an aggressive campaign as a candidate for County Executive
County executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
in 2005. Astorino was among the finalists for Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
to gubernatorial candidate
New York gubernatorial election, 2006
The New York gubernatorial election of 2006 was a race for the governorship of this U.S. state. Eliot Spitzer was elected on November 7, 2006, succeeding Governor George Pataki, the three-term incumbent, who did not run for a fourth term....
John Faso
John Faso
John Faso was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York in 2006, and was defeated by Democratic nominee Eliot Spitzer in the largest defeat for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in the state's history. This followed his loss to Alan Hevesi four years earlier in his run for State Comptroller...
in 2006.
County legislature
In 2003, Astorino announced he was a candidate to replace retiring County LegislatorWestchester County Board of Legislators
The Westchester County Board of Legislators is the legislative, policy-making branch of Westchester County. The powers of the Board are enumerated in the County’s charter. A key power of the Board concerns finances: appropriating funds, approving the budget and levying taxes...
Sue Swanson, who represented a district encompassing Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, New York
Mount Pleasant is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 43,724.-Geography:...
, Pleasantville
Pleasantville, New York
Pleasantville is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 7,019 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Pleasantville is home to a campus of Pace University and to the Jacob Burns Film Center...
, North Castle
North Castle, New York
North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has no villages.-Geography:...
, West Harrison
Harrison, New York
Harrison is a village and town in Westchester County, New York, United States, located approximately northeast of Manhattan. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census.-Establishment:...
, and portions of northern Greenburgh
Greenburgh, New York
Greenburgh is a town in the western part of Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 88,400 at the 2010 census. Paul J. Feiner has been the Town Supervisor since 1991.-History:...
. Astorino defeated his challenger with an aggressive campaign, which according to the Journal News, "raised the bar" for candidacies to the Board of Legislators.
As a County legislator, Astorino was involved in plans to redevelop the Saw Mill River Parkway
Saw Mill River Parkway
The Saw Mill River Parkway is a north–south parkway that extends for through Westchester County, New York, in the United States. It begins at the border between Westchester County and the Bronx, where it continues into New York City as the Henry Hudson Parkway, and heads generally...
and restore wetlands, which is often flooded dangerously during rain storms, and coordinated meetings between the environmentalist groups, New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
Corps of Engineers in 2005. He helped the board stop Westchester's payments of a "franchise fee" to their bus operator, Liberty Transit Inc., after drawing attention that the contract with the company did not provide for such a payment.
Once elected, he served on the committees for parks & recreation; housing; health; public & safety & criminal justice; youth; and county officers & departments. After serving only two years, Astorino opted not to run for reelection, instead focusing on a challenge to incumbent County Executive Andy Spano. As an outgoing legislator, he opposed the pay increases that were enacted for board members.
2005 race for County Executive
The 2005 campaign for Westchester County ExecutiveWestchester County Executive
Westchester County Executive is the head of the executive branch of the Westchester County government. The county executive has power to veto acts of Westchester County Board of Legislators-History:...
pitted the two-term Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
incumbent Andy Spano, against Astorino, a Republican
Republican 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...
. The race featured instances where Astorino publicized a homemade video of a security breach at the County's Kenisco dam
Kensico Reservoir
The Kensico Reservoir is a reservoir, located in the village of Valhalla and in the town of North Castle, that was put into service in 1915. It is about 3 miles north of White Plains, New York, and about 15 miles north of New York City...
, while the incumbent, according to the New York Times, "in the face of record property-tax increases, has busied himself with a campaign against steroids for schoolchildren, as a follow-up to an anti-bullying initiative that featured admonitions from Spider-Man."
As of 2008, real property taxes in Westchester have increased in Westchester by 54% since 2000. Making the tax issue the centerpiece of his campaign, he railed against two straight years of double digit property tax
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
increases in the county budget, and called Spano out of touch with voters, criticizing a visit to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
by Spano during the seven-week Bee Line Bus
Bee-Line Bus System
The Bee-Line Bus System, branded on the buses in lowercase as the bee-line system, is a bus system serving Westchester County, New York. The system is owned by the County's Department of Public Works and Transportation and operated, on contract , by Yonkers-based Liberty Lines Transit, Inc...
strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
which cost taxpayers $3 million.
Facing an uphill battle in a Democratic County against an incumbent who raised four times as much money, Astorino made a surprisingly strong showing and was defeated by 30,000 votes. Overall voter turnout was light and incumbents were largely successful throughout the County.