Robert Castelli
Encyclopedia
Robert J. "Bob" Castelli (born December 16, 1949) is an American
security consultant, politician, professor and media personality from Goldens Bridge, New York. He is currently a member of the New York State Assembly
, representing northeastern Westchester County, New York
.
During the Vietnam War
, he served with the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the United States
Army
. Upon his separation from military, he became a member of the New York State Police
, where he served with the elite Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Organized Crime Task Force for over two decades.
A graduate of Harvard University
, Castelli is a nationally recognized expert on criminal justice and security matters. He became an educator in 1996 went on to serve as Chair of the Criminal Justice
Department at Iona College
. After holding elective office in local government, Castelli ran for and was elected to the State Assembly in a special election in February 2010, and was reelected just eight months later for a second, and this time full two-year term. He is also a columnist for the website Politico
.
, and was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division as an infantryman. He served in combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He received an honorable discharge in 1973.
Upon his return from his Army service, he worked as a Constable in South Carolina
before returning to New York and beginning a 21-year career in the New York State Police, during which he worked as an intelligence officer with elite Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. Castelli held the ranks of Trooper, Sergeant, Investigator, and eventually was promoted to Station Commander. He was involved in numerous high-profile arrests during his tenure with the State Police.
Castelli is a graduate of Palmer College
, the State University of New York
and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he was named a Picket Fellow in Criminal Justice Policy and Management by the National Institute of Justice
in recognition of his contributions to the law enforcement community. He was also once a nationally ranked competitive sport shooter
.
After retiring from the State Police he began a career as an educator, teaching at Iona College for thirteen years and rising to become Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department. He also worked as an Adjunct Professor at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
and Marist College
from 1996 to 2010, where he lectured on a wide variety of criminal justice and security-related subjects including criminal investigation, organized crime, white collar crime, terrorism, security management and police procedures.
These credentials made him a popular guest as an expert commentator in print, radio, and television media programs throughout the United States
. Prior to his transition from public service to politics, Castelli was a regular contributor on network television including ABC
, CBS
, Fox News, CNN
, MSNBC
and Court TV
. Castelli also owns a professional security consulting business, holding certifications as a Certified Fraud Examiner
, Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Criminal Analyst
, Certified Protection Professional
, Certified Police and Security Officer Instructor, Certified Firearms Instructor and licensed and bonded Private Investigator
.
The public servant, television commentator and writer Castelli resides in the Goldens Bridge hamlet of Lewisboro, New York
. He has two sons, one of whom is a Lieutenant Colonel
in the United States Army
Special Forces and also a graduate of the Kennedy School, and another who is an ordained Minister, serving a congregation in southern Florida.
, Castelli was elected as a town councilman in his home town of Lewisboro from 2000 to 2004. He made his first run for the State Assembly in 2004.
Since February 2010, he has represented the 89th Assembly District in the New York State Legislature, which includes the towns of Bedford
, Harrison
, Lewisboro
, Mount Kisco
, New Castle
, North Castle
, Pound Ridge
and portions of the City of White Plains
in Westchester County
, New York
. He writes for Politico
's Arena, a daily, cross-party and cross-discipline medium which the newspaper calls its "daily debate with policy makers and opinion shapers."
in a special election on February 9, 2010, defeating County Legislator
Peter Harckham in an upset victory. The previous incumbent, Democratic Assemblyman Adam Bradley
, had resigned after he was elected Mayor of White Plains
in 2009. Castelli previously ran for the seat in 2004, but was defeated by Bradley.
Political prognosticators viewed the suburban contest as a sign of a Republican resurgence and a barometer for coming fall elections, where Republicans would eventually go on to make large gains in the United States Senate
, House of Representatives
, and retake the New York State Senate
. Castelli described his victory as a "an expression of voter discontent with the state capital" and the corruption prevalent in New York's State Government.
His 2010 election and subsequent reelection are considered significant, as the 89th Assembly District seat to which he was elected is gerrymandered to be a Democratic district, and happens to be the home of prominent Democratic political figures including former U.S. President
Bill Clinton
, U.S.
Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton
, New York
Governor
Andrew Cuomo
, attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
and George Soros
, billionaire financier of numerous progressive
causes. Castelli was also outspent by his opponents, although he attempted to overcome these disadvantages by running what he called a "grassroots, front-porch campaign."
Since he is a Republican representing a heavily Democratic
district, Castelli has placed a large emphasis on bipartisanship
. Castelli has also sought to earn a reputation as a reformer, and frequently challenges Albany's
infamous "dysfunction" in his campaign rhetoric. In an editorial endorsing Castelli, the New York Times called him "the kind out outsider Albany needs."
and Sierra Club
. For instance, he was a cosponsor and vocal proponent of a ban on hydraulic fracturing
in the Marcellus Shale region of upstate New York, a process for natural gas exploration which is known as "hydro-fracking."
He received a perfect score on the environment from the statewide group EPL/Environmental Advocates in 2011, on the only scorecard that grades New York State lawmakers according to their votes on the environment. His score was the highest of any Republican in either house for the second year in a row."Assembly Member Barbara Lifton Receives Top Honors in 2011 Environmental Report Card." EPL/Environmental Advocates. October 12, 2011.
A self-described conservationist, Castelli also received high marks from the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association
for what they described as "his actions in defense of our civil rights," as well as from the New York State Farm Bureau, which named him to their prestigious "Circle of Friends."
According to Patch Media, a regional outlet covering the 89th Assembly District, he "has earned a reputation for being an independent voice in the Legislature, especially on tax policies that he says unfairly penalize Westchester County residents and business owners."
As one of only three combat veterans in the State Assembly, he has placed a large part of his legislative focus on veterans' issues. He was credited with building the coalition that saved the five New York State Veterans Homes
from elimination in the 2011 New York State budget. The homes are disabled veteran and veterans gerontological eldercare facilities, which were facing steep budget cuts and potential closure of one or more of the facilities, until the cuts were averted due to efforts from twenty-seven State lawmakers.
David A. Paterson as Chapter 294 of the Laws of 2010. Castelli has shown an uncanny ability to pass his own prime-sponsored legislation despite being a member of the Assembly's minority
, which has a reputation for legislative powerlessness amid the control of Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver
.
In 2011, Castelli became the first member of the Minority since 2007 to pass a "statewide" bill, a veterans protection measure which prohibited public employers from abolishing positions of persons absent on military duty. Four other Castelli bills have been signed into law, making him one of the more productive lawmakers in Albany.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
security consultant, politician, professor and media personality from Goldens Bridge, New York. He is currently a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, representing northeastern Westchester County, 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...
.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, he served with the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Upon his separation from military, he became a member of the New York State Police
New York State Police
The New York State Police is the state police force of over 4,600 sworn Troopers for the state of New York. It was established on April 11, 1917 by the New York Legislature, in response to the 1913 murder of a construction foreman named Sam Howell in Westchester County, which at that time did not...
, where he served with the elite Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Organized Crime Task Force for over two decades.
A graduate of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Castelli is a nationally recognized expert on criminal justice and security matters. He became an educator in 1996 went on to serve as Chair of the Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
Department at Iona College
Iona College (New York)
Iona College is located in New Rochelle, New York, 20 miles north of Manhattan in suburban Westchester County. The college occupies 35 acres on North Ave. The college also operates a Graduate Center in Pearl River, Rockland County, New York....
. After holding elective office in local government, Castelli ran for and was elected to the State Assembly in a special election in February 2010, and was reelected just eight months later for a second, and this time full two-year term. He is also a columnist for the website Politico
Politico (newspaper)
The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...
.
Early life and military career
Castelli was born in Jamaica, New York. He dropped out of high school in 1967 and volunteered to join the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, and was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division as an infantryman. He served in combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. He received an honorable discharge in 1973.
Upon his return from his Army service, he worked as a Constable in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
before returning to New York and beginning a 21-year career in the New York State Police, during which he worked as an intelligence officer with elite Special Investigations Unit and the New York State Organized Crime Task Force. Castelli held the ranks of Trooper, Sergeant, Investigator, and eventually was promoted to Station Commander. He was involved in numerous high-profile arrests during his tenure with the State Police.
Castelli is a graduate of Palmer College
Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College, is a comprehensive, multi-campus, public, two-year college serving the primary region of Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties of South Carolina....
, the State University of New York
Empire State College
Empire State College, one of the thirteen arts and science colleges of the State University of New York, is a multi-site institution offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. It is primarily oriented towards the adult learner...
and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he was named a Picket Fellow in Criminal Justice Policy and Management by the National Institute of Justice
National Institute of Justice
The National Institute of Justice is the research, development and evaluation agency of the United States Department of Justice. NIJ, along with the Bureau of Justice Statistics , Bureau of Justice Assistance , Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention , Office for Victims of Crime ,...
in recognition of his contributions to the law enforcement community. He was also once a nationally ranked competitive sport shooter
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
.
After retiring from the State Police he began a career as an educator, teaching at Iona College for thirteen years and rising to become Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department. He also worked as an Adjunct Professor at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and is the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States. The college offers programs in Forensic Science and Forensic...
and Marist College
Marist College
Marist College is a private liberal arts college on the east bank of the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie, New York. The site was established in 1905 by Marist Brothers, and the college was chartered in 1929...
from 1996 to 2010, where he lectured on a wide variety of criminal justice and security-related subjects including criminal investigation, organized crime, white collar crime, terrorism, security management and police procedures.
These credentials made him a popular guest as an expert commentator in print, radio, and television media programs throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Prior to his transition from public service to politics, Castelli was a regular contributor on network television including ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, Fox News, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and Court TV
Court TV
truTV is an American cable television network owned by Turner Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Time Warner. The network launched as Court TV in 1991, changing to truTV in 2008...
. Castelli also owns a professional security consulting business, holding certifications as a Certified Fraud Examiner
Certified Fraud Examiner
The Certified Fraud Examiner is a credential awarded by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners . The ACFE association is the world's largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education...
, Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Criminal Analyst
Society of Certified Criminal Analysts
The Society of Certified Criminal Analysts is a professional body established to promote professionalism and high standards in analysis by establishing standards and testing and by certifying analysts...
, Certified Protection Professional
ASIS International
ASIS International , headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is a professional organization for security managers....
, Certified Police and Security Officer Instructor, Certified Firearms Instructor and licensed and bonded Private Investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
.
The public servant, television commentator and writer Castelli resides in the Goldens Bridge hamlet of Lewisboro, New York
Lewisboro, New York
Lewisboro is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 12,411 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John Lewis.- History :...
. He has two sons, one of whom is a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Special Forces and also a graduate of the Kennedy School, and another who is an ordained Minister, serving a congregation in southern Florida.
Political career
A 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...
, Castelli was elected as a town councilman in his home town of Lewisboro from 2000 to 2004. He made his first run for the State Assembly in 2004.
Since February 2010, he has represented the 89th Assembly District in the New York State Legislature, which includes the towns of Bedford
Bedford (town), New York
Bedford is a town in Westchester County, New York, USA. The population was 17,335 at the 2010 census.The Town of Bedford is located in the northeastern part of Westchester County, and contains the three hamlets of Bedford Hills, Bedford Village, and Katonah...
, 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:...
, Lewisboro
Lewisboro, New York
Lewisboro is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 12,411 at the 2010 census. The town is named after John Lewis.- History :...
, Mount Kisco
Mount Kisco, New York
Mount Kisco is a community that is both a village and a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The Town of Mount Kisco is coterminous with the village. The population was 10,877 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, New Castle
New Castle, New York
New Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 17,569 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.15%, is water. New Castle is bordered by the towns of Mount Pleasant...
, 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:...
, Pound Ridge
Pound Ridge, New York
Pound Ridge is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 5,104 at the 2010 census.The town is located in the eastern corner of the county, bordered by New Canaan, Connecticut, to the east, Stamford, Connecticut, to the south, Bedford, New York, to the west and...
and portions of the City of 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...
in Westchester County
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...
, 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...
. He writes for Politico
Politico (newspaper)
The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...
's Arena, a daily, cross-party and cross-discipline medium which the newspaper calls its "daily debate with policy makers and opinion shapers."
2010 special election
He was elected to the New York State AssemblyNew York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in a special election on February 9, 2010, defeating County Legislator
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...
Peter Harckham in an upset victory. The previous incumbent, Democratic Assemblyman Adam Bradley
Adam Bradley
Adam T. Bradley is a Democratic former New York State Assemblyman and former Mayor of the City of White Plains.-Early life and career:...
, had resigned after he was elected Mayor of 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...
in 2009. Castelli previously ran for the seat in 2004, but was defeated by Bradley.
Political prognosticators viewed the suburban contest as a sign of a Republican resurgence and a barometer for coming fall elections, where Republicans would eventually go on to make large gains in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, and retake the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
. Castelli described his victory as a "an expression of voter discontent with the state capital" and the corruption prevalent in New York's State Government.
2010 general election
After serving for only eight months, the freshman legislator had to run for a full term. In the 2010 general election, Castelli held the seat by defeating White Plains City Council President Thomas Roach. Winning with a slim 112 vote margin, a month-long recount was necessary before Castelli could be declared the winner, thus earning him a full two-year term representing the 89th District. The 89th Assembly District has over 10,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans, and Castelli is the first Republican to hold the seat in seventeen years.His 2010 election and subsequent reelection are considered significant, as the 89th Assembly District seat to which he was elected is gerrymandered to be a Democratic district, and happens to be the home of prominent Democratic political figures including former U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
, 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...
Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo
Andrew Mark Cuomo is the 56th and current Governor of New York, having assumed office on January 1, 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the 64th New York State Attorney General, and was the 11th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development...
, attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Robert Francis Kennedy, Jr. is an American radio host, activist, and attorney specializing in environmental law. He is the third of eleven children born to Ethel Skakel Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy and is the nephew of John F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy...
and George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
, billionaire financier of numerous progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
causes. Castelli was also outspent by his opponents, although he attempted to overcome these disadvantages by running what he called a "grassroots, front-porch campaign."
Since he is a Republican representing a heavily 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...
district, Castelli has placed a large emphasis on bipartisanship
Bipartisanship
Bipartisanship is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system such as the United States, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise. The adjective bipartisan can refer to any bill, act, resolution, or other political act in which both of the...
. Castelli has also sought to earn a reputation as a reformer, and frequently challenges Albany's
New York State Capitol
The New York State Capitol is the capitol building of the U.S. state of New York. Housing the New York State Legislature, it is located in the state capital city Albany, on State Street in Capitol Park. The building, completed in 1899 at a cost of $25 million , was the most expensive government...
infamous "dysfunction" in his campaign rhetoric. In an editorial endorsing Castelli, the New York Times called him "the kind out outsider Albany needs."
Political positions
Castelli is known as a staunch fiscal conservative and holds strong anti-tax and smaller government positions. Yet he also holds environmentalist views considered atypical for most Republican politicians, and his pro-conservation ideals have garnered him support and endorsements from organizations such as the League of Conservation VotersLeague of Conservation Voters
The League of Conservation Voters is a political advocacy organization founded in 1969 by American environmentalist David Brower in the early years of the environmental movement. LCV's mission is to "advocate for sound environmental policies and to elect pro-environmental candidates who will adopt...
and Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
. For instance, he was a cosponsor and vocal proponent of a ban on hydraulic fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing
Considerable controversy surrounds the current implementation of hydraulic fracturing technology in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process of utilizing pressurized water, or some other liquid, to fracture rock layers and release petroleum, natural gas, or other...
in the Marcellus Shale region of upstate New York, a process for natural gas exploration which is known as "hydro-fracking."
He received a perfect score on the environment from the statewide group EPL/Environmental Advocates in 2011, on the only scorecard that grades New York State lawmakers according to their votes on the environment. His score was the highest of any Republican in either house for the second year in a row."Assembly Member Barbara Lifton Receives Top Honors in 2011 Environmental Report Card." EPL/Environmental Advocates. October 12, 2011.
A self-described conservationist, Castelli also received high marks from the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association
New York State Rifle and Pistol Association
Established in 1871, the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the U.S. state of New York's largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization....
for what they described as "his actions in defense of our civil rights," as well as from the New York State Farm Bureau, which named him to their prestigious "Circle of Friends."
According to Patch Media, a regional outlet covering the 89th Assembly District, he "has earned a reputation for being an independent voice in the Legislature, especially on tax policies that he says unfairly penalize Westchester County residents and business owners."
As one of only three combat veterans in the State Assembly, he has placed a large part of his legislative focus on veterans' issues. He was credited with building the coalition that saved the five New York State Veterans Homes
New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford
The New York State Veterans' Home at Oxford is an old soldiers' home located east of the village of Oxford in Chenango County, New York. The home was established for American Civil War veterans and their wives so they would not be separated in old age...
from elimination in the 2011 New York State budget. The homes are disabled veteran and veterans gerontological eldercare facilities, which were facing steep budget cuts and potential closure of one or more of the facilities, until the cuts were averted due to efforts from twenty-seven State lawmakers.
Legislative achievements
In his first 120 days in office, Castelli passed two pieces of legislation, the first of which was signed into law by GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
David A. Paterson as Chapter 294 of the Laws of 2010. Castelli has shown an uncanny ability to pass his own prime-sponsored legislation despite being a member of the Assembly's minority
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
, which has a reputation for legislative powerlessness amid the control of Assembly Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon Silver
Sheldon "Shelly" Silver is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from New York. He has held the office of Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 1994.- Personal life :...
.
In 2011, Castelli became the first member of the Minority since 2007 to pass a "statewide" bill, a veterans protection measure which prohibited public employers from abolishing positions of persons absent on military duty. Four other Castelli bills have been signed into law, making him one of the more productive lawmakers in Albany.
Election results
- February 2010 special election, NYS Assembly, 89th AD
Robert J. Castelli (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
- INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
- CON)... 6,966 (55.3%) Peter B. Harckham (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
- WORWorking Families PartyThe Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
)... 5,639 (44.7%)
- November 2010 general electionGeneral electionIn a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, NYS Assembly, 89th ADRobert J. Castelli (REP New York Republican State CommitteeThe New York Republican State Committee is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in New York, headquartered in Albany.-History:...
- CON - TXPTaxpayers Party of New YorkThe Taxpayers Party of New York State was an American political party active in the state of New York. It was not part of any nationwide party, nor is it affiliated with the U.S. Taxpayers' Party , which predates it by 18 years, or the Tax Revolt Party active in Nassau County...
)... 21,263 (50.1%) Thomas M. Roach, Jr. (DEM New York State Democratic CommitteeThe New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
- INDIndependence Party of New YorkThe Independence Party is an affiliate in the U.S. state of New York of the Independence Party of America. The party was founded in 1991 by Dr. Gordon Black, Tom Golisano, and Laureen Oliver from Rochester, New York, and acquired ballot status in 1994...
- WORWorking Families PartyThe Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
)... 21,151 (49.9%)