Gashi Elected Chairman Of Westchester Board of Legislators

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A new chairman for the Westchester County Board of Legislature was elected.

On Monday, Vedat Gashi, D-District 4, was chosen for the position in a 17-0 vote, according to a spokesperson.

He takes over as chairman following the resignation of Catherine Borgia, who served as chairwoman from January 2022 through April 28 and the interim leadership of Vice Chairwoman Nancy Barr.

Borgia resigned as chair after a judge lifted a temporary restraining order that prevented the legislators from ousting her. A majority of the Board wanted to remove Borgia over her handling of reports that an aide — Anand Singh of Tarrytown — had solicited sexual relations from a minor.

Gashi’s election makes him the first person of Albanian-American descent and the first person of Muslim faith to become chairman of the Board of Legislators in its 300-year history.

He said he was honored to have been chosen to lead the board.

“I look forward to working with my fellow legislators to address the challenges facing our county,” Gashi said, “and to ensure that Westchester remains a great place to live, work and raise of family.”

Born in Kosovo, Gashi and his family fled the oppressive, socialist regime when he was 4 to come to the United States. He has been a Westchester County resident for more than two decades.

He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Connecticut College, where he was invited to serve on the board of trustees as a Young Alumni Trustee. He earned his J.D. from Seton Hall University.

During his studies, Gashi interned for Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, then at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and Rep. Lee Hamilton on the House International Relations Committee.

Gashi is a Yorktown resident. The Westchester County Legislative District 4 is comprised of New Castle, Somers and Yorktown.