POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. Outgoing Dutchess County Executive William F.X. O’Neil on Friday approved the 2024 county budget adopted by county legislators, but not before vetoing four changes made by legislators and expressing his concern over the inclusion of salary increases for county government’s elected officials. In a two-page budget message, O’Neil said he would have […]
By Mid Hudson News -www.midhudsonnews.com
Apr 19, 2021
POUGHKEEPSIE – A challenge to a candidate’s nominating petitions will be decided by Dutchess County Supreme Court Judge Christi Acker after a 2:00 pm hearing today. Democratic County Legislator Craig Brendli is challenging petitions submitted by Sakima McClinton, who is seeking to challenge Brendli in the June Democratic primary.
McClinton submitted nominating petitions with 103 signatures. Brendli and another registered Democrat in District 8 challenged the validity of several of the signatures. After Dutchess County Board of Elections (BOE) Commissioners Erik Haight, the Republican, and Hannah Black, the Democrat, reviewed the objections, 44 signatures were invalidated, leaving McClinton with 59 signatures, the required minimum number to keep the candidate on the ballot.
The Dutchess County Sheriff s Office plans to expand its relationships with community groups, continue integrating mental health assistance in its responses to calls for help, and take steps to diversify the pool of candidates eligible to join its ranks.
Those steps and others are included in the office s Police Reform and Modernization Plan, which it says will improve transparency and communication with the areas it serves.
The plan was approved by the county Legislature Monday in a bipartisan, but not unanimous, vote. Six Democrats voted against the plan, including Barrington Atkins, who was a part of the community stakeholders group that created a document to give to all Dutchess municipalities about recommended reform efforts.