Latimer Makes First Address to Business Community

Pledging to seek community input in solving Westchester’s problems, Westchester County Executive-Elect George Latimer said government can be put on a sound financial path for the future if all parties work together.

Speaking at the Business Council of Westchester’s KeyBank breakfast on Tuesday, Latimer said, “We have serious problems, budgetary issues to deal with now. They are not going to be easy,’’ he said. “We are going to have to make some decisions.”

Latimer said that his team would need to convince rating agencies like Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s that Westchester has a plan to stabilize the government’s economy, which he said has for too long been relying on short-term solutions to balance its budget. “That is where ideology has its limits and pragmatism has to take over,” he said. “We cannot afford to have our bond rating continue to drop.’’

More than 250 attended the breakfast at Tappan Hill in Tarrytown to hear the newly elected County Executive and ask questions about his vision for the future.

Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, said she was honored to serve on Latimer’s transition team committee on economic development. She praised Latimer for his “open” and “transparent” approach during his years in government, which included elected positions on the Rye City Council, County Board of Legislators and the State Assembly and Senate. “We are so pleased that he is here today as our newly elected County Executive,” she said.

Latimer ended by saying that the nation was too focused on the cult of personalities and that it was not the individual who makes government run but the combined efforts of the many people.

“Fifty years from now they won’t remember my name, but hopefully they will remember what I’ve done,’’ he said.

See event photos here