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County Legislature is Focus of Plan

By Nik Bonopartis
Poughkeepsie Journal

March 13, 2006

Energized by significant gains in last year's elections, City of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County Democrats took an opportunity to pat themselves on the back Sunday and vowed to end Republican rule over the county's Legislature and executive position.

The pledges to unseat County Executive William Steinhaus and overtake the Republican majority in the Legislature came during a gathering at Christos Restaurant in Poughkeepsie, where local Democrats honored their city counterparts for defeating four Republicans in races for the Common Council.

The Democrats, newly optimistic in a traditionally Republican-controlled county, spoke of government accountability and change.

"We're going to move Mr. Steinhaus off that sixth floor so we can know what's going on in county government," Fred Knapp, a county legislator from the City of Poughkeepsie, said to loud applause from his colleagues.

The sixth floor is a reference to the county executive's offices in the county office building in downtown Poughkeepsie.

Republicans hold a 13-12 majority over their rivals in the county Legislature after Democrats picked up four seats in November.

Helping Taxpayers

Voters placed Mary Solomon in the city's 6th Ward in November in a race that saw the narrow defeat of Republican incumbent Steven Horning.

Solomon and other council members talked of their confidence in going forward with the city's revaluation process, and Solomon added she's especially intent on "keeping a sharp eye on taxpayer dollars."

"This is an exciting time for the City of Poughkeepsie, an exciting time for me, and I'm very proud to be part of the Common Council," she said.

Gwen Johnson, who defeated Republican Arnold Baratta for the city's 7th Ward seat, said the victory was the result of "a long and hard journey."

Johnson listed community efforts, such as a Saturday math tutoring and social skills program, and various initiatives in the city's schools as a focus for her term.

For their keynote speaker, the Democrats invited Denise O'Donnell, a former federal prosecutor who is running for state attorney general to replace Eliot Spitzer, who is running for governor.

O'Donnell -- perhaps most known for prosecuting James Kopp, who murdered a Buffalo abortion doctor -- echoed the county and city politicians on issues of government accountability and said she hopes their local success is an indicator of future victories on the state level.

"It's very inspirational to see what quality candidates with a reform message can accomplish," O'Donnell said.