The wannabe Governors have already started making noises, with their campaign platform: Elect Me And I Will Frack New York Senseless. Frackmeister wannabe Rob Gastorino, an Alfred E. Newman (ask your dad or grand-dad) Doppelganger (ask a German) is from way far from the frack fields - Westchester County, home of State Senator Greg “Goof” Ball, the biggest fracking flip-flopper in Albany. The other hat in the ring ? Richard Nixon’s son-in-law. Should be a real fracking gas.

When contacted by NFW’s roving reporter about fracking, the perky WC Exec chirped: “I think it’s great. It’s my name in Italian: “gastorino“- it means gas from a little bull, a torino.”

WC Exec Gastorino Considers Gov Bid !

Nov. 11, 2013 |11 Comments

ALBANY — Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino is framing a potential gubernatorial run around the need for Albany to curb state-mandated costs on local governments, saying Monday that, “If business as usual continues at the state level, a fiscally responsible executive has to step up.”

In a statement, Astorino criticized the lack of mandate relief from Albany. He said last week that he plans to tour the state to push for greater help from state leaders for local governments — a move that would boost his exposure as he contemplates a run against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2014.

“Every executive in this state is feeling the squeeze of Albany’s mandates and pension costs,” Astorino said. “In Westchester, 85 cents of every tax dollar is diverted into paying for state mandates, and that cost grows every year. Many of us are doing our part at the county and local level to control costs, but much more needs to happen in Albany where the problems are rooted. If business-as-usual continues at the state level, a fiscally responsible executive has to step up.”

Astorino, who was elected to a second term last week, recently said he is seriously considering a run for governor.

State GOP chairman Ed Cox (nee Nixon) on Monday hailed a potential run by the Republican county executive, saying the two discussed the race while they attended the Somos El Futuro convention in Puerto Rico last week.

“Clearly he’s thought about it in a very serious way, which is a very good indication that he’s going to be running,” Cox said on WGDJ-AM (1300).

But Cox said that Astorino hasn’t made a final decision.

“He is very seriously considering this. Very seriously. He’s taking the right approach,” Cox said.

Cox said Astorino is like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Both may be socially conservative, but voters are more interested in their fiscal message, Cox said.

“The most important issues are the fiscal ones and the pro-growth ones. There is a taxpayer revolt going on. They are bleedingjobs. They want pro-growth policies,” Cox said. “What this state needs is a good fracking. Big time.”

Cuomo will be seeking a second term next year after easily being elected in 2010. He remains popular and has $28 million in his campaign coffers.

A Siena College poll last month showed he was viewed favorable by 62 percent of voters.

There was no immediate comment from the state Democratic Committee.

Cuomo has defended his mandate-relief efforts, saying he has implemented a new pension tier and a takeover of the growth Medicaid costs from the counties. The state also implemented a plan to allow local governments to borrow off the state pension fund to cover growing retirement costs. In September, Cuomo announced a financial restructuring board to help local governments. It includes up to $80 million to help struggling municipalities.”