David Spano, The Third Democrat To Enter The Race for County Exec
David Spano, son of former County Executive Andrew Spano, announced he is running for Westchester County Executive, Wednesday
David Spano, son of former County Executive Andrew Spano, announced at Trump Park Residences in Shrub Oak on Wednesday that he’s throwing his hat in the ring seeking to become the next Westchester County Executive.
The younger Spano whom memorably challenged his dad for the position in 2009, said he intends to win the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Robert Astorino in his bid for a third term. Spano called himself a “progressive Democrat” and wants to work with both sides of the aisle.
The race for the county’s top seat is heating us as the 57-year-old former mechanic, made his announcement less than a week after State Senator George Latimer of Rye announced he’s entering the race. County Legislator Ken Jenkins of Yonkers had announced he attempts to make history by becoming the first African-American County Executive, last August.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano (unrelated) put an end to a year-long speculation that he was running for Westchester top seat, Monday, March 27th. Mike Spano’s decision not to run may have cleared a path for County Legislator Ken Jenkins who received the endorsement of the Yonkers Democratic City Committee last week.
Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) and State Assemblyman Tom Abinanti, a Democrat who represents Mount Pleasant and Greenburgh, have both been approached by supporters to consider a run in this November’s election. Abinanti is still mulling it over and while there has been no official word yet, sources close to Paulin say she has decided not to run for county executive.
When we reached out to current County Executive, Rob Astorino for his thoughts on Spano’s announcement, Bill O’Reilly, a campaign spokesman for Astorino, said, “There’s a time for politics and a time for governing. This is a time for governing.”
“County Executive Astorino looks forward to a series of healthy, respectful debates in the Fall with whomever emerges from the Democratic Primary,” O’Reilly said.
“I think I can do a better job,” David Spano said of the others in the field. “I’m going to enter the race, put my hat into this race, so that I can represent people that might feel disenfranchised.”
David Spano doesn’t stand a chance of winning the nomination. Nothing is known about him, other than the familiar last name. When he made this announcement, his mistake was to appear at Trump Park Residences in wealthy mostly white Shrub Oak. His father Andy Spano refused to abide by a Federal mandate to construct affordable housing in such communities, for fear of offending/alienating his wealthy white supporters and financiers. The elder Spano kicked aside the mandate and left it to be dealt with by his successor Rob Astorino.
As for Jenkins and Latimer, I’m not a fan of Astorino, but he stands a much better chance of being re-elected than those two.