Another cycle of frantic campaigning, with its relentless fundraising and make-your-mother-blush smear tactics (for some, not all) has drawn to a close, and the Dutchess County of Nov. 7 looks remarkably similar to the Dutchess County of Nov. 6. Sure, there have been some changes at the top – not the very top, where County Executive William Steinhaus and County Clerk Brad Kendall managed to keep their seats – but at least in the county Legislature, where Democrats managed to land a 13-12 majority, their first in 30 years. The cities of Poughkeepsie and Beacon elected new mayors, with each opting for an ideological shift (Poughkeepsie voters replaced Democrat Nancy Cozean with Republican John Tkazyik while those in Beacon tapped Democrat Steve Gold over GOP representative Fred Antalek) and numerous other seats were flipped as Dutchess County voters made their voices heard.
But the same issues facing the county and its residents prior to Tuesday – over-development, rising taxes and environmental problems, among the most dire – are not easily dismissed. And it would be foolish to think that simply pulling a lever would bring about solutions. Instead, the time is now for municipal leaders, those both embarking on new terms and re-elected, to craft a blueprint for dealing with the issues that confront their communities.
Although the campaign trail is supposed to be a place for candidates to express themselves and map out their vision for leadership, too often it becomes a place for overwhelming negativity, focusing on what the opponent has done wrong rather than what could be done right. Although there must be some value to the strategy, a common complaint from voters on this Election Day was that campaigns this year were more negative than usual, turning off some of the electorate and leaving some who decided to vote unsure of what their candidate’s qualifications really were.
But expecting candidates to forgo negative campaigning is akin to hoping tax bills don’t come in – it ain’t gonna happen. That’s why kudos also need to be extended to the losers in this year’s races. Regardless of how the campaigns were fought, it’s an incredibly hard thing to do: put yourself – accomplishments, foibles and all – out for public judgment. To those who ran this year and came up short, if you believe that you can truly make a difference, don’t give up. Keep sharing your message and goals. Be heard. Be outspoken. And do what you can to make sure the work of those elected accurately reflects the will of the people who chose them.
Which brings us back to the unavoidable issue – simply electing a fresh slate of politicians isn’t enough. It’s up to the residents of this county to see to it that their voices are heard, and make sure that the leaders are listening. Congratulations are due to this year’s winners, but the work has just begun. Confronting the challenges that face Dutchess County has never been a more important – and difficult – task.