Will Westchester Tax Revolt Come to Putnam?
by Michael Brendan Dougherty

During last week's "offyear" elections, most of the nation's media attention went to a small upstate district and to New Jersey and Virginia. But one of the most stunning upsets across the nation was in Westchester County where the conservative Rob Astorino defeated 12-year incumbent Andrew Spano by 16 points. Republicans in Putnam have hailed Astorino's victory, but have also urged caution to their fellow-party members that the anti-incumbent, antitax climate that swept through Westchester may head north soon.

The scope of Astorino's victory is difficult to overstate. Democrats have nearly a 2-to-1 advantage in voter registration in Westchester. "This was more than big," State Senator Vincent Leibell, a Republican, said. "I wondered whether a Republican could ever win in Westchester again."

The driving issue in Westchester was taxes. The county was recently recognized as the top-taxed county in the nation. Putnam, at No. 10 in the nation, is not far behind.

"The people of the Hudson Valley came together and staged a tax revolt without firing a single shot," said Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball, who is preparing for a run for Congress against Democrat John Hall, who is serving his second term as representative of New York's 19th district.

"I think Republicans have reason to be happy but should also be cautious," said Ball, who since he entered the Assembly in 2006 has cast himself as a foe of the political establishment. "The overarching mentality is to vote the bums out. All the incumbents should be careful not to serve as a rubber stamp for their leadership whether they are Republicans or Democrats."

Putnam County legislator Tony Hay, a Republican who is a consistent opponent of tax increases, says he hesitates to endorse any candidate outside of his home in Putnam, but he urged that Astorino follow through on his campaign promises. "The first thing he should do is get rid of that limousine service and the bodyguards," Hay said,