Polls will be open on Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. To find your polling place, visit the Putnam (putnamboe.com) or Dutchess (dutchesselections.com) board of elections.
Click on the links to read the responses we posed to candidates in various races:
Putnam County Sheriff (4-year term)
Andrew DeStefano (write-in)
Robert Langley Jr. (D)
Donald Smith (R)
Philipstown Supervisor (2-year term)
Richard Shea (D)
Philipstown Town Board (2 open seats, 4-year term)
Timothy Greco (R)
Michael Leonard (D)
John Van Tassel (D)
Dutchess County Legislature (District 16) (2-year term)
John Forman (Independence)
Frits Zernike (D)
Dutchess County Legislature (District 18) (2-year term)
Jerry Landisi (Independence)
Nick Page (D)
Beacon City Council (4-year term)
At-Large (two seats)
Amando Downer (R)
Lee Kyriacou (D)
George Mansfield (D)
Ward 1
Terry Nelson (D)
Wayne Theiss (R)
Paul Yeaple (Green)
Ward 2
Omar Harper (R)
John Rembert (D)
Ward 3
Andrew Gauzza III (R)
Jodi McCredo (D)
Ward 4
Christopher Bopp (R)
Amber Grant (D)
Below are other items you will see on the ballot. The three statewide proposals will appear on the back.
State Supreme Court Justice, 9th District (14-year term)
The 9th District (of 13) covers Dutchess, Putnam, Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties.
Christi Acker (D) — principal court attorney, New York Office of Court Administration; town justice, Pine Plains; Villanova Law 1992
Linda Murray (R) — associate court attorney, Poughkeepsie City Court; Albany Law 1997
Dutchess County Comptroller (4-year term)
The comptroller is the chief accounting and auditing officer for the county.
Jim Coughlan (R) — incumbent, first elected 2009
Robin Lois (D) — co-owner and controller of a commercial property management group and Taconic Sport & Racquet Club in Hopewell Junction
Proposal 1
Every 20 years, voters are asked if they would like to amend or rewrite the state constitution, which hasn’t been revised since 1938. This is done through a constitutional convention. If approved, delegates would be elected in November 2018 and the convention would convene in April 2019. In November 2019, voters would consider every amendment proposed by the convention.
Proponents argue that the constitution could be updated and revised more easily with a convention and vote than through the legislative process. For instance, the New York State Bar Association says a convention could help streamline New York’s convoluted court system. Opponents argue it would open the door for intense lobbying by special interests and political insiders that could threaten labor rights, pension benefits and environmental protections. It also would be expensive, they argue, costing tens of millions of dollars.
Proposal 2
This proposal would allow judges to reduce or revoke the state pension of any public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her duties.
Proposal 3
This proposal would create a 250-acre “land bank” that would allow towns, villages and counties to request state Forest Preserve land for projects where they have no other option. For example, a town may want to eliminate a dangerous road curve. In exchange, the state Legislature would need to add 250 acres to the Forest Preserve. Only municipalities located in 16 rural counties west or upstate of the Highlands would be allowed to use the land bank, including Ulster, Greene, Sullivan and Delaware. The proposal also would allow bike paths, sewer lines and utility lines along highways on preserve land.
