2nd Democrat enters race for Rockland County executive

Democrats are lining up to run for Rockland County executive next year, hoping to fill the expected void to be left by longtime Republican leader C. Scott Vanderhoef, who is not seeking re-election after nearly 20 years in office.

Suffern Mayor Dagan Lacorte has announced that he will be seeking the Democratic Party's nomination next spring to run for the seat. His bid comes two weeks after Rockland County Legis. Ilan Schoenberger, a Ramapo Democrat, said he would run.

"As mayor and a business owner, the buck stops with me," Lacorte said in a prerecorded video message announcing his candidacy. "I passed a budget under Gov. (Andrew) Cuomo's property tax cap that improved downtown commerce and expanded recreation for our seniors. That's the kind of leadership that can make Rockland's government work for all of us for a change."

Lacorte, the village's mayor since 2010, said in his statement that he wants to cut the number of county departments, boards and commissions by 25 percent to reduce operating costs and "eliminate wasteful earmarks" while increasing investments in Rockland County Community College.

Lacorte couldn't immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Other Democrats whose names have been mentioned as potential candidates include Rockland Clerk Paul Piperato; Rockland Legis. Alden Wolfe, vice chairman of the county Legislature; and former New City Jewish Center president Harry Baker.

To date, the only Republican who has said he is seriously considering a run for county executive next year is Rockland County Legis. Ed Day, a retired NYPD lieutenant commander. He is expected to make a decision by the end of the year.

Fiscally conservative but socially moderate, Vanderhoef, 63, was first elected as county executive in 1993 and has won re-election four times despite Democratic voters outnumbering Republicans in Rockland by a margin of more than 2 to 1.

Previously, Vanderhoef ran for Congress in 2002 and was the Republican and Conservative Party candidate for state lieutenant governor in 2006 as John Faso's running mate. The pair lost to Democrats Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson.

In the past two years, Vanderhoef has faced criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike over his handling of the county's fiscal crisis, which has prompted the county to lay off workers and increase taxes to offset shortfalls.

The budget deficit this fiscal year alone stands at more than $12 million, with the aggregate shortfall at nearly $95 million.