Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, the Republican candidate for governor, made his first official campaign stop in downtown Westchester Monday.

Molinaro pounded the pavement in Peekskill to raise public awareness for himself and to take shots at Gov. Andrew Cuomo - the man he believes he will be facing in November.

Molinaro admits he’s in an uphill battle taking on Cuomo, with his incumbency and his $30 million war chest. But on Monday, his message to voters was a vote for him is a vote to restore public faith in government.

“Every elected official and candidate should have to work harder to earn the votes of New Yorkers…come to the them, not the other way around,” he said.