Democrats take two seats that represent Beacon

By Jeff Simms

Beacon voters elected newcomers to take over the two seats now held in the Dutchess County Legislature by members of the Independence Party, giving Democrats a clean sweep in the local elections.

Frits Zernike defeated incumbent John Forman in the 16th District, which includes Ward 4 and part of Ward 3, and Nick Page unseated Jerry Landisi in the 18th, which includes Wards 1, 2 and part of 3. Zernike won by four percentage points, 52-48, and Page defeated Landisi, 63-37.

Dutchess County Legislature (District 16) (2-year term)

Frits Zernike (D) – 1,432 (52%)
*John Forman (Independence) – 1,325 (48%)

Dutchess County Legislature (District 18) (2-year term)

Nick Page (D)  – 1,624 (63%)
*Jerry Landisi (Independence) – 942 (37%)

*Incumbents

Related stories:

Beacon High School Honor Roll

Dutchess Awards Federal Grants

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Jeff Simms has covered Beacon for The Current since 2015. He studied journalism at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. From there he worked as a reporter for the tri-weekly Watauga Democrat in Boone and the daily Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland, before transitioning into nonprofit communications in Washington, D.C., and New York City. He can be reached at [email protected].