It’s a farmer versus a councilwoman in Red Hook, as the town decides between non-enrolled voter Robert McKeon, who has the Democratic Party endorsement against current Republican town councilwoman Sue Crane.
The race arose after incumbent Democratic supervisor Marirose Blum Bump announced during the Democratic caucus that due to family health matters she was not seeking re-election.
McKeon said his focus is going to be on solving the traffic woes bedeviling the town, and seeking ways to attract good jobs to the community, through bringing new business to town. “A safer, cleaner better Red Hook is what I stand for,” he said.
Councilwoman Crane has served nine years on the town board. She highlights her experience spearheading construction of an affordable housing project for senior citizens and farmland and open space protection initiatives in the town.
Each major party is also fielding a pair of candidates for town council in Red Hook. The Democrats are pitting Micki Strawinski and Harry Colgan against incumbent Republicans Lisa Pullaro and Harold Ramsey. Two town justice seats are up for grabs, with Democrats Jonah Triebwasser and Jeffrey Martin facing off against Republican incumbents Roland Page and Kelly Flood-Myers. Superintendent of Highways Wayne A. Hildenbrand, a Republican, is running unopposed.
In the Dutchess County Legislature’s 20th District, incumbent Republican David Seymour is being challenged by Democrat Thomas Mansfield.