Biography

C. Scott Vanderhoef is an environmental attorney who was born and raised in Rockland County and is now serving his fourth term as County Executive – the highest elected office in Rockland.  He first took office in January 1994 after campaigning on a platform that emphasized that County government should be run like a business. 

Vanderhoef’s education began in Rockland County schools. After graduating from Tappan Zee High School, he attended Alfred University in New York State and continued his schooling at Pace University Law School in White Plains, NY. He has earned degrees in history, education and law and has published articles on environmental and land planning issues.  He taught an environmental law course at St. Thomas Aquinas College for two years and has been a guest lecturer at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Vanderhoef received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Dominican College of Blauvelt in 1995 and a Doctor of Humane Letters from St. Thomas Aquinas College of Sparkill in 1999.

Vanderhoef began his public service career in 1972 in Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller’s office, where he served as program liaison to the Departments of Environmental Conservation, Health, Parks and Recreation, Arts Council, Veteran Affairs and Human Rights.  He remained in Albany to continue this work under Governor Malcolm Wilson and briefly under Governor Hugh Carey.  Vanderhoef continued in public service as the State Project Coordinator of the Child Medicaid Program for New York City. 

After working in Albany, Vanderhoef returned to Rockland.  He was employed for 15 years by the Ramapo Land Co. and rose from General Manager to become its President and Chief Executive Officer.  Before he was elected County Executive, Vanderhoef served as Acting Village Justice of Hillburn for three years.  He served on the Board of Trustees of St. Thomas Aquinas College for 12 years and was elected for six years to the Board of Education for the Ramapo Central School District, where he eventually served as president.

Elected as Rockland’s County Executive in 1993, Vanderhoef has remained true to his campaign promises by focusing on creating a streamlined, efficient and cost-effective government.  Under his leadership, one-third of all County departments were consolidated or eliminated.  Throughout his administration, Vanderhoef has advocated for more reasoned and thoughtful land-use planning in our communities.  He commissioned the first new comprehensive master plan in more than 25 years. Under Vanderhoef’s direction, the Office of Community Development has built and rehabilitated more than 1,600 units of affordable housing and supported the revitalization of our downtowns.  Vanderhoef’s perseverance in negotiations with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority led him to secure new trains, express service and enhanced transportation stations and parking for Rockland commuters.

Vanderhoef has also supported expanded health services for our residents and enhanced programs for our children.  More than 6,000 veterans now receive health services from our newly expanded VA clinic in Rockland, up from 300 in 1996.  The Health Department has expanded housing inspections and public education campaigns combating cancer, West Nile virus, tobacco, Lyme Disease and TB.  Rockland County has increased the amount of day care slots for working families, eliminating the waiting list, and has developed the first countywide “School of the 21st Century” in the nation.

Vanderhoef’s desire to protect Rockland’s unique and precious environment prompted him to create the County’s first-ever Open Space Preservation Program.  This successful program has led to the creation of five new parks, the preservation of two farms and the addition of 632 acres of parkland to the County.  Vanderhoef’s crowning achievement is the Haverstraw Bay County Park, Rockland’s first park along the Hudson River, which he chose as the home for the poignant Rockland County September 11th Memorial.   In addition to these accomplishments, Vanderhoef served as president of the New York State Association of County Executives in 2003.

Throughout his years in Rockland, Vanderhoef has been extremely involved in our community and has served on numerous boards of charitable organizations.  He served as the Board Chairman and/or President of the United Way of Rockland, the Rockland Business Association and the Historical Society of Rockland County, and served as a Trustee on the Board of the Suffern Free Library.  He currently serves on the boards of Rockland Economic Development Corporation, the Fantasy Fountain Fund, The 21st Century Collaborative for Children and Youth, and Leadership Rockland, which he also helped found. In addition, he is affiliated with the Blauvelt Lions Club, the Free and Accepted Masons Athelstane Lodge No. 839 in Pearl River and the Haverstraw Elks Club, and is past president of the Suffern Rotary Club.