At least once a week County Executive Rob Astorino will send out an email requesting donations. He must be successful as he has amassed a pretty hefty campaign war chest. When “Rob” isn’t sending the
email requests, Westchester Republican Chair Douglas Colety is doing the honors. And, when neither of them are doing it, there are other “friends” who will send the request out. While this is “politics as usual”, ABG believes they’ve hit a new low.

Here’s a request (italicized below) that went out to all the Republican and Independent email addresses owned by either Rob Astorino or the Republican Party. ABG receives a lot of information from a lot of sources and can track some of the points of origination for many of them. This time, however, everyone’s email received a plea from Rob Astorino’s wife, Sheila requesting a donation as a birthday present for her husband. The amount she is requesting is $46, one dollar for every year on this, his 46th birthday. The plea email is from herself and their three kids. 

ABG is disappointed that “Sheila” would request funds and do so under the guise of a birthday present. More importantly, as parents they should be shielding their kids from this type of exposure. Oh sure, ABG is sure there’s some republican out there saying how cute or how clever this email was from “Sheila”. ABG believes it is “cheesy” and detrimental towards these children. ABG is also pretty sure Mrs. Astorino was nowhere near a computer sending out this email, as the Republican “machine” thought this ploy up and executed it as another excuse to ask for funds.

Dear Friend,
   Today is one of our favorite days in the Astorino household. Later on, we're all going to gather together to celebrate Rob's 46th birthday.
   At this age, I'm sure you can imagine that it's not one of his favorite days, but the kids and I are excited to help him celebrate. We've made cards, decorated a cake and wrapped gifts.
   This is a particularly special birthday for him as this is the final year of his first term as County Executive. I'm enormously proud of what Rob has accomplished in this time, and I know there is so much more he wants to do to help make Westchester a better place to live.
   As Rob's friends, I wanted to personally ask you to join our family in celebrating his birthday with a donation of $46. Every dollar towards his re-election is critical and I know how grateful he is for your friendship and support.
   So please join me, Sean, Kiley and Ashlin in wishing Rob a very Happy 46th Birthday!
   Sincerely,
 Sheila Astorino

Shame on the Republicans and shame on the Astorino adults for exposing their children to this kind of unnecessary publicity and exhibition. While some may say it’s no big deal or that’s the name of the game Astorino is in, his kids are not “in the game” and deserve to be kept out of politics regardless of their father’s profession. One ABG staffer said she saw Astorino in a local store with his kids as Astorino was telling his daughter he would not be getting her anything. She decided to not interrupt to say hello and just let him be a dad to his kids, shopping in a store. We agree with her decision. Now lets see if the Astorino’s can do the same thing. We can only hope.