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Bob Castelli

Street Address: 280 N. Bedford Rd, Ste 300Mt. Kisco, NY 10549

Race: Assembly District 93 State legislator

More Assembly District 93 State legislator candidates: David Buchwald |

Political and civic experience: Lewisboro Town Board, 2000-2004 New York State Assembly, Feb 2010 - present

Age: 63

Family: Two sons, a Lt. Col in U.S. Army Special Forces, and an ordained minister.

Residency: Goldens Bridge, NY

Incumbent?: Yes

Ballot lines:

Education: A.A., Palmer College, B.S, State University of New York, M.P.A, Harvard University

Occupation: Work Experience: State Assemblyman, representing 93rd District, February 2010 – Present President, Robert J. Castelli Associates Inc., 1996 – Present Adjunct Professor, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1996 – February 2010 Professor (Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department), Iona College, 1996 – 2009 New York State Police, 1974 – 1995 United States Army, 1967 – 1972

Twitter: http://twitter.com/bobcastelli

Facebook: http://facebook.com/bobcastelli

Other social media: www.linkedin.com/in/bobcastelli

Why are you running for office or seeking re-election?
Having spent all my adult life in the service of my Country and my community, I saw the dysfunction in Albany and recognized that responsible citizens needed to roll up their sleeves and help fix it, not just complain about the problem. As a small business owner who has served in local government before, I realized there were effective managerial ways to cut costs, while increasing the delivery of services.

In this past legislative session I worked with Governor Cuomo to pass tax reform that gave us the lowest middle class tax rate in fifty eight years, while passing a long-overdue property tax cap, and repealing the onerous MTA payroll tax for schools and 80% of small businesses. More needs to be done. We need to fully repeal the MTA payroll tax, and pass immediate, short term mandate relief to ease the crushing burden on property taxpayers. If the State wants it, the State should pay for it.

As the Ranking Member of the Assembly Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I authored and passed a major statewide law to prohibit public employers from terminating the positions of persons absent on military duty. I also co-sponsored the State’s tough new ethics law to clean up Albany’s infamous dysfunction, which eliminated taxpayer funded pensions from State officers and employees who commit felonies during the course of their duties, while increasing government disclosure and transparency.

What in your personal, civic or professional experience recommends your election or return to office?
I have spent all of my adult life in service to my country and my community beginning when I enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of seventeen, and volunteered to serve as an Infantry Sergeant in Vietnam during 1968 and 1969. Upon my return, I joined the New York State Police and served for 22 years, including time as a Trooper in the North Salem, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge and Somers area. I completed my State Police career in the elite Organized Crime Task Force.

Upon completing my State Police career, I completed a graduate degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and I continued my career of service as a college professor, serving as the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Department at Iona College and on the faculty of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and Marist College in Poughkeepsie, simultaneously. I also served for four years on the Lewisboro Town Board before seeking my current position.

I have had the honor of representing what is now the 93rd Assembly District since I was elected in a special election in February 2010, and re-elected again in the general election of November 2010. During that time, I am proud to say I have worked with Governor Cuomo and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver two on-time budgets and close a 13.5 billion dollar budget deficit with no new taxes, no new borrowing and no layoffs. Additionally, we have created landmark ethics reform modeled on a bill I introduced, instituted a property tax cap to protect against runaway government spending, and began to work on the unfunded mandates that have hurt all our communities. I am also proud to report that we restored the EPIC drug program for senior citizens.

Further, in two short years, I earned one of the highest ratings on protecting the environment and am a co-sponsor on the moratorium against hydro fracking, so we can let science, not emotion, help us determine if this process is safe for New York. I have also created and passed legislation to protect our veterans, and I have worked hard to create jobs while serving as a member of the Governor’s Regional Economic Development Council.

In addition, I was able to reach across the aisle to get six key pieces of my legislation passed, while cosponsoring 61 other bills that also passed. I have also received the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the Sierra Club. Additionally, I have been endorsed by all 56 Police Departments in Westchester, including the White Plains PBA and the New York State Police.

What would be your top three priorities if you are elected or re-elected?
1. Jobs. This includes ending our reputation as the most business unfriendly State and ending the infamous dysfunction and corruption in Albany

2. Cut taxes. Having already passed the property tax cap and cut the middle-class tax rate to the lowest rate in 58 years, more needs to be done, specifically, substantive short/long term mandate relief

3. Cut spending. We spend too much and get too little in return. The goal is to return fiscal responsibility to strengthen the economy and create jobs