| Bernadette Castro | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for New York |
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| In office 1995–2006 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1944 Manhattan, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Peter M. Guida |
| Profession | Business Owner |
Bernadette Castro (b. 1944, Manhattan, New York) is a New York politician and businesswoman who served in the Cabinet of former Governor George Pataki. She was the heir and former President and Chief Executive Officer of Castro Convertibles, a sofa business in New Hyde Park, New York. Castro sold the company to Krause Furniture in 1993.[1] As a child, she appeared in commercials for the company where she would pull out a sofa bed.
Bernadette Castro recorded several singles in the 1960s for Columbia Pictures' Colpix Records recording subsidiary including a girl group-style record which hit the national charts, "A Girl In Love Forgives." Fans of the genre say this is one of the few girl group records that can compete with the Shangri Las' and Ronettes' best work. She released an additional single on Colpix called "Sports Car Sally," popular among many girl group collectors for its hot-rod theme.
Castro attended the University of Florida earning a B.S. degree in Broadcast Journalism and a graduate degree in Secondary School Administration with Phi Kappa Phi honors. In 1985 she became the first woman to receive the University of Florida’s Distinguished Service Alumni Award.
Bernadette Castro is married to Dr. Peter M. Guida, professor of surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, and presently resides in Lloyd Harbor, New York. She has four children, Terri, David, Jonathan and Bernard, and eight grandchildren.
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In 1994, Castro was the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. She was viewed as a longshot candidate. Ultimately, Ms. Castro lost the race and was fined $22,000.00 by the Federal Election Commission for "failing to file timely finance reports for hundreds of thousands of dollars she lent to her own failed campaign." [2]
In 1995, the newly elected Pataki appointed Castro as the state Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. As a part of her duties overseeing state parks, Castro also served as the state's historic preservation officer. She served as Parks Commissioner for the entire 12 years of the Pataki Administration.
The prestigious U.S. Open golf tournament was played at Bethpage State Park during Castro's tenure.
President George W. Bush named Castro to a federal advisory committee on historic preservation issues. In 2004 it was reported that she declined the chance to run for the U.S. Senate against Sen. Charles Schumer. In his final weeks in office, Pataki named Castro to a nine-year term on the board that oversees state parks on Long Island.
There was some public criticism over Castro's approval of a long-term concession license with Donald Trump at Jones Beach State Park as well as Castro's promise to convert Kings Park State Hospital into a state park. The closed hospital site requires environmental remediation.
During Pataki's first term, Castro was very public in her criticism of the performance of then Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross, who was in a public feud with Pataki. Castro once did a radio debate with McCaughey Ross.
In late 2005, Pataki nominated Castro to become a member of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board.
Castro, who had previously served on the Governor's Task Force on Casino Gambling (1996) and was presently a member of the ad hoc Committee on the Future of Racing (2005-2007), was intended to be designated as chair of the board. The Racing and Wagering Board seat, a full time position, carried a fixed term which would have allowed Castro to remain in state government after Pataki left office in January 2007. The board has three seats of six-year duration. Only two seats may be occupied by a member of any single political party. At the time of her nomination, two of the seats were held by a Republican and Independent; the vacant seat, however, had a term of only two years remaining. Pataki had tried to get the sitting Republican member to step down to allow for Castro's appointment to a seat of greater term than the vacant seat. This did not occur and State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno declined to bring Castro's nomination to the floor. Ultimately, Castro's nomination was withdrawn.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert McMillan |
Republican Nominee for United States Senator from New York (Class 1) 1994 |
Succeeded by Rick Lazio |