About Ed Day
Rockland County Executive
Rockland County Executive Ed Day was born in 1951 to Edwin and Jane Day and raised in a Brooklyn housing project as the eldest of three children. He graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School before earning an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Kingsborough Community College in 1971. He later continued his studies at Pace University while working full-time in sales.
In 1979, Ed joined the New York City Police Department, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander of Detectives before retiring in 2000. He later served as Baltimore’s Chief of Detectives, overseeing a 3,200-member force and a $7 million budget. During his tenure, he strengthened investigative operations, improved case success rates by 50 percent, and reduced overtime spending.
After years of volunteer service on town committees, Ed entered public office in 2005, winning election to the Rockland County Legislature. Concerned by growing fiscal challenges, he ran for County Executive and was elected in 2013. Upon taking office, he immediately confronted a $138 million deficit.
Through disciplined budgeting and responsible financial management, County Executive Day eliminated the deficit, built a strong surplus, and transformed Rockland into one of New York State’s seven strongest counties fiscally. Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising pension and insurance costs, the County has maintained strong AA+ bond ratings.
Now serving his fourth term, County Executive Day continues to focus on fiscal responsibility while providing relief to taxpayers. His administration eliminated the Auto Registration Tax and the Energy Tax, saving residents $12 million annually. He implemented a 2 percent County Property Tax cut in 2024 and 2025, in addition to no increases to County Property Taxes in 2022, 2023, and 2026.
His leadership has also prioritized infrastructure and quality of life. He reopened the Office for People with Disabilities, expanded the Open Space Acquisition Program, preserved more than 330 acres of land, and oversaw the construction of a new County Highway Facility and a state-of-the-art Fire Operations Building.
Beyond government, Ed has been deeply involved in his community for decades. He has volunteered as a youth sports coach since the early 1990s, led the Little Tor Neighborhood Association, and helped establish the PTA Child Personal Safety Course. His service has earned numerous honors, including the Rockland County Distinguished Service Award.
Ed resides in Rockland County with his wife, Donna, and remains actively engaged in community life.