Editorials

Suffolk Times Endorsements: Who we think you should vote for

Andrew Cuomo New York State Governor

For Governor: Andrew Cuomo

Perhaps Andrew Cuomo’s most impressive accomplishment since becoming governor in 2011 has been his ability to get state budgets passed on time. He achieved this four years in a row, something that hadn’t happened in 40 years. He’s also remained focused on strengthening the economy through business incentives and middle-class tax cuts. Locally, Mr. Cuomo has put much effort into boosting North Fork tourism.

Meanwhile, he’s shown strong and leadership on social issues such as medical marijuana and same-sex marriage. On gun control, he and state lawmakers should be encouraged to revisit the flawed and hastily passed SAFE Act gun control legislation, though his leadership on the divisive issue was impressive.

Mr. Cuomo does have his warts. In January, he was widely criticized for touting a $2 billion budget surplus that didn’t exist; leading experts agreed he was being disingenuous. He also went back on his own tough words on ethics when, according to reports, his administration took steps to block subpoenas issued by a commission he himself had set up.

Mr. Cuomo’s Republican challenger, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, has been right to pounce on Mr. Cuomo’s recent ethical issues, but Mr. Astorino has presented no realistic competing vision for the state. The challenger’s experience in government is impressive, as is his ability to win minority votes, but Mr. Cuomo certainly deserves another term.