POUGHKEEPSIE – Tuesday’s elections included competitions for the Dutchess County offices of county executive, county clerk, family court judge, and district attorney. Sue Serino marked her return to public office as county executive by defeating Democrat Tommy Zurhellen. Serino won with 38,666 votes to Zurhellen’s 29,596.
Serino is well-versed in public office. She began her career serving on the Hyde Park town board before moving to the Dutchess County Legislature. From the county, Serino was elected to the State Senate where she served until the latest round of redistricting when she lost to Michelle Hinchey. Later, Serino’s supporters encouraged her to run for county executive. She embarked on what she called “the listening tour” to hear from the county’s nearly 300,000 residents.
“I want to establish something like a Community Engagement Office to give the community a chance to tell me what is important to them. I plan to address the pressing issues including homelessness and the lack of affordable housing.” The county executive-elect also plans to address the lack of available and affordable childcare to help parents stay in the workforce.
Zurhellen said he was proud of the campaign he waged with the help of a few close associates. “I wanted to raise awareness to the issues I think are important,” said the man who walked across the country four years ago to shine a light on the veteran suicide crisis. “We need to take a hard look at the homeless crisis while also addressing the lack of affordable housing,” he said. “I believe my campaign brought these vital issues to the forefront.”
The race for Dutchess County Clerk was a repeat of four years ago, with the same results. Republican incumbent Brad Kendall defeated Democrat Kenya Gadsden by garnering 36,143 votes to Gadsden’s 31,294. The race for Dutchess County Family Court Judge pitted incumbent and the ranking Family Court Judge, Joe Egitto…
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