Westchester Emergency Services Commissioner Appointed Acting County Executive

Press release from the Westchester County Government:

02 January 2025

Westchester County Communications Director Catherine Cioffi Releases Statement on Transition of County Executive

“At 12:01 p.m. today, George Latimer resigned his position as Westchester County Executive. At 12:02 p.m., Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi designated Richard Wishnie, the Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, to serve as Acting Westchester County Executive. This position is temporary until Monday, January 6, at which time the Westchester County Board of Legislators will meet to vote to designate a County Executive and set the date for a special election.

“Commissioner Wishnie is a lifelong public servant; however, he will not be seeking the role of County Executive. Additionally, the special election must be held within 90 days of County Executive Latimer’s resignation. Once the winner of the special election is determined and certified by the Board of Elections, that person will serve as Westchester County Executive through December 31, 2025, completing what would have been the remainder of County Executive Latimer’s term.

“We understand this process may seem confusing and a bit cumbersome. However, it is important to note that it is all dictated by the County Charter, which was drafted in 1937. We are grateful to Commissioner Wishnie for his commitment to the County and look forward to working with him during these next few days. We also thank Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins for being a steadfast pillar during this transitional time.

“As dedicated public servants, we in the Executive Branch deeply value the residents of Westchester County and the hardworking County employees who keep our community thriving. As we navigate this transitional period, please rest assured that we are committed to ensuring a smooth, peaceful and calm transition.”

This press release was produced by the Westchester County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.