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Gerald McKinstry

Gerald McKinstryGerald McKinstry has been a staff writer for The Journal News in both Westchester and Rockland counties since 2004. He currently covers Westchester County government and politics in the region. He's also covered many other communities on both sides of the Hudson River. Before that, he was an editor with The Standard Star and Review Press, two weekly newspapers affiliated with The Journal News in southern Westchester. He started that post in 2001. He is also an adjunct professor of journalism at Iona College. McKinstry grew up in a hilly place called Yonkers, “a city," as the saying goes, “where nothing is on the level." He is married and has two children.

E-mail Gerald McKinstry at gmckinst@lohud.com

Entries written by Gerald McKinstry

CSEA supports Spano

October
30

Westchester’s civil service employees  is backing County Executive Andy Spano. CSEA Local 860, which represents over 14,000 members, today announced its endorsement of Spano re-election.

“Andy Spano is someone we know and someone we can work with,” said Jack McPhillips, president of CSEA Westchester Local 860. “We endorse him as the candidate who will best look out [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 30th, 2009 | 4 Comments »

Pataki and Astorino Pound Pavement

October
30

Mayor Mike Bloomberg may not be backing Rob Astorino, but former Gov. George Pataki is.

The two Republicans toured downtown Peekskill today on what they called a small business tour, assessing the challenges of mom-and-pop shop owners in the city where Pataki was once mayor.

They met at the Governor George E. Pataki Leadership and Learning Center [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 30th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

(Nick) Spano backs (Andy) Spano

October
30

Former Republican State Sen. Nick Spano announced that he’s throwing his support behind County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat.

In a letter, the Republican power broker turned lobbyist said Andy Spano is an “innovative leader who can guide us through these tough fiscal times.” He said the county executive has managed the government well with new [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 30th, 2009 | 33 Comments »

Poll: County Executive Race Close

October
30

A recent poll conducted by Regional News Network and Sienna Research Institute shows County Executive Andrew Spano and his Republican opponent Rob Astorino in a close battle.
Spano leads Astorino 47 percent to 41 percent with another 11 percent of likely voters remaining undecided — there’s a margin of error of 4.5 percent.
Also in that poll, [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 30th, 2009 | 8 Comments »

Bloomberg not backing Astorino

October
29

A picture might be worth a thousand words, but not necessarily an endorsement when its with Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
New York’s Republican mayor isn’t backing Rob Astorino for county executive — even though the Republican touted the endorsement during a debate Wednesday and campaign literature.
Astorino had the picture to prove it.
Bloomberg and Astorino met last month [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 29th, 2009 | 10 Comments »

Conservative Long backs Astorino

October
27

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long today called on Westchester voters to support Rob Astorino, even though he’s not on that party line in the Nov. 3 race for county executive.

In making his plea today in Yonkers, Long called it a “terrible injustice” and said voters shouldn’t be hoodwinked  or fooled into supporting [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 27th, 2009 | 10 Comments »

NY Post backs Astorino

October
27

The New York Post today endorsed Rob Astorino for county executive. In its editorial, the paper owned by Rupert Murdoch cited high taxes and spending as reasons for ousting County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat.

They liked Astorino, a Republican, because of his plans to have employees kick-in for health-care and pension costs, merging duplicative agencies [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 27th, 2009 | 6 Comments »

Bock, Williams battle for District 8

October
14

Taxes, affordable housing and the future of the Tappan Zee Bridge were among the topics discussed by the Democrat and Republican vying for Legislator Lois Bronz’ seat in a debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Bronz is not seeking re-election.

Democrat Alfreda Williams, a former Greenburgh town clerk for 14 years, and Republican Tom [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 14th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

Astorino, Schorr get retired cops support

October
14

The Westchester County Police Retired Officers on Tuesday endorsed two Republicans running for county-wide office: Rob Astorino for Westchester county executive and Dan Schorr for district attorney.

The group, comprised of retired county police officers, cited high property taxes, wasteful government spending, rising crime, and lenient plea bargains to violent criminals as serious issues in this [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 14th, 2009 | 27 Comments »

WCA wants to know where candidates stand

October
13

With so many issues facing Westchester taxpayers and businesses — high taxes, government consolidation, MTA payroll tax, property revaluation and a federal housing settlement —  the Westchester County Association wants to know how the candidates for public office plan to address them.

The WCA last week sent out a questionnaire that was developed by its members. [...]

Posted by Gerald McKinstry on October 13th, 2009 | Post a Comment »

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Politics on the Hudson, from The Journal News/LoHud.com, is your online source for up-to-the-minute political news, insight and dish in the Lower Hudson Valley and New York state. Contributors to the blog include reporters and editors from Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties, as well as Albany and Washington.

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