Born and raised in Dutchess County as a middle child of six kids, I moved to Texas for work where I met my husband Doug Strawinski and eventually convinced him to move back to Dutchess County in 1996. We have two children, both graduates of Red Hook High School: Andrew (26) and Jaclynn (24). Red Hook has been a wonderful place for us to live and raise our family.

In 1998, I joined the group that would soon be renamed the Red Hook Parent Teacher Student Association where I served as Vice President and President. I served on the school district’s Committee for Special Education as a child advocate for several years and volunteered in many other school-related activities as my children progressed through school.

What experience and/or training has prepared you to serve in the position you seek?
I have 34 years of administrative experience in a variety of fields including construction, purchasing and medical office management and am currently in my tenth year of employment at Bard College, currently as the Student Employment Manager.

I served as chair of Red Hook’s Greenway and Trails Committee until 2007 when I was elected to the Red Hook Town Board where I serve today. I co-founded Northern Dutchess Communities that Care and was co-organizer of the Red Hook Winter Market and the annual Red Hook town-wide Spring Cleanup. I also serve as the liason to several town committees including the Economic Development Committee and Senior Services Committee.

As liaison to a number of town committees I have had the opportunity to be a part of many great accomplishments by these groups of dedicated volunteers. During my term, the Economic Development Committee was restructured and now has members from a variety of businesses and interests. The Conservation Advisory Committee headed by Brenda Cagle received grants for solar panels on town hall and the firehouse. The Greenway and Trails Committee completed the wetlands trail and began a new annual event “The Tour de Red Hook” and the Senior Services Committee developed an Emergency Response Directory, sponsored twice a month food drives, several Medicare workshops and started a Senior Walk Program.

Please share your thoughts on property taxes and any specific related changes or policies you support and will work to pass if elected.
While serving as your town councilwoman these past four years, I have been a strong voice for keeping our town taxes low and objected to unnecessary spending at a time when financial constraint was urgent. I’m no stranger to balancing a checkbook or a budget whether at home or at work and know from experience the burden that our onerous property tax system places on hard-working families.

I’m proud to have helped construct and pass a 0% tax increase budget during my term. And to save more, I waived my rights to a yearly $4000 insurance buy-out for elected officials and have supported a resolution to eliminate it for all local officials at a savings of thousands of dollars to the residents of Red Hook and Tivoli.

Real, meaningful property tax relief can only come in the form of a method such as a Circuit Breaker which would set a maximum amount that a family would be required to pay based on their income. I have lobbied in Albany for exactly that and will continue to do so on behalf of Red Hook and Dutchess County.

What is your position on the prison overcrowding, jail construction and public safety issue?
The overcrowding issue in the jail should have been addressed years ago and has only been exacerbated by recent cuts to social and mental health services. I understand that the county has extensive Alternative to Incarceration Programs that are successful but we should look for further improvements by trying programs from other counties or states that have had success.

I will also push to make sure that we are working with the state regarding the possibility of local shared facilities. For example, the Fishkill Correctional facility has empty dorms that would reduce the transportation costs spent moving inmates to other counties.

We must also look at the full picture of how to best handle the various populations within the jail. 75-80% of our inmates are being held pre-trial or pre-sentencing – if we can reduce the backlog of cases with faster courts it will save us money on incarceration.

What is your position on independent redistricting at the county level?
Last December, my opponent and the newly elected Republican majority repealed an independent redistricting law that had been passed with bipartisan support just a year earlier. This law would have created a committee of five citizens with two picked by each party and the fifth picked by those four members. The committee would redraw the legislative districts and present the plan to the full legislature for a vote.

The goal was to ensure that county legislative districts would be redrawn with the best interests of the people in mind, not gerrymandered to the benefit of one side or another. Instead, we now have a committee that was hand-picked by a single party. Governor Cuomo has stated that he will not sign a redistricting plan at the state level that does not come from an independent body. Why should we do any less? When elected I will push to restore truly independent redistricting for the people of Dutchess County.

Choose one more important issue facing our county today and how you would handle it.
We must work with the federal government to secure funds to ensure that our aging, and sometimes dangerous, infrastructure is being maintained properly and repaired where necessary. While serving on the town board, we received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for town projects and I will work to ensure that no stone is left unturned at the county level when it comes to funding for our infrastructure and other services. Every dollar we find in grants for the county and Red Hook is a dollar less in taxes that must be raised.

Why should voters pick you on election day?
For more than 20 years I have dedicated myself to service – whether it was as an active member of parent teacher associations, child advocate and tutor in the school district or as a volunteer my local community. Over the last 4 of these years, it has been my great honor to serve as a council member on the Red Hook Town Board. In this time I have learned a great deal about how government is supposed to work.

With the encouragement of family and friends I decided to take a step up the political ladder to the county level. While I will represent the residents of Red Hook and Tivoli, decisions made at this level will take on a more personal meaning because of the deep family roots I have in the county. If elected I can only promise this: I will continue to serve with the same energy, enthusiasm and advocacy as I have in the past.

Red Hook has been my home for 35 years. My husband, Les, and I moved here while working for IBM and we raised our children, Seth (age 34) and Katy (age 31), here. In addition to working as a computer programmer with IBM for 11 years, I have worked with many local, regional, and state groups. I first began working in the community more than 25 years ago with the parent-teacher organization and the town recycling committee. Most recently I have served on town and village committees, led a regional Urban Forestry group, and serve on the executive board of a state council. I also work as an educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension on a grant-funded project. To me, Red Hook is a very special place, a place where many good things are happening.

What experience and/or training has prepared you to serve in the position you seek?
As mentioned above, I have worked with numerous committees and groups throughout Red Hook and beyond. As for board experience, I have been a board member (now executive board member) of the NYS Urban and Community Forestry Council for several years. As a member of the town’s Intermunicipal Task Force for 5 years, I worked on the award-winning zoning changes called the “Centers and Greenspaces Plan” that have cut potential sprawl by over 60% while protecting crucial farmland.

I have served as chairperson of the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) for 5 years. Our committee wrote successful grant applications on behalf of the town for solar projects for town hall and the fire house and also for an energy consultant. The town was awarded about $300,000 for this work and will realize many thousands of dollars in energy savings as well. We work on resource protection and are leaders in the 10% Challenge initiative, advising the town board and conducting outreach.

Please share your thoughts on property taxes and any specific related changes or policies you support and will work to pass if elected.
I believe that the work the current Town Board has begun with shared services is a great start to getting the most bang for the taxpayer buck. If elected, I would support continued work in this area. I also support efforts to reform the way in which schools are funded and work to ensure that the Star program continues.

Would you have voted for the recent rezoning plan also known as Centers and Green Spaces plan and why or why not?
Yes, I would have voted for the Centers and Greenspaces Plan. I am a member of the Intermunicipal Task Force that worked on the plan. I saw how hard the members worked to create a plan that invests in the future of Red Hook, preserving and promoting agriculture and providing for smart growth in the town. Following this plan instead of the status quo will save taxpayer money and make our town more walkable, and a better place to establish businesses. The Plan puts in place zoning that helps preserve the community’s rural character, a goal that our residents have overwhelmingly supported.

What is your position on the new highway garage project?
The Town needs a new highway garage. Most people would not want their loved ones to work in the existing garage. Our current board and the Highway Superintendent have done a good job of designing a project that provides the necessities of a garage without the extras. They have also had the foresight to include provisions that will allow the sharing of services with the Village of Red Hook, something they discussed with village officials. This will save the taxpayers money by eliminating redundancy.

Choose one more important issue facing our town today and how you will handle it.
An important issue facing our town (and all towns) is that of economic development. There are many thriving businesses, but also several notable vacant spaces. The Economic Development Council is already working on a short promotional video about Red Hook. I will work with the Council and the Chamber of Commerce to make sure businesses are informed about economic incentives that are available. I will also encourage partnership with the newly formed Regional Economic Development Council so that Red Hook could benefit from a regional plan.

Why should voters pick you on election day?
For more than 25 years, I have lived and worked in our community. I will bring that experience, along with my energy and dedication, to the town board. In the course of this experience, I have worked both as a member and as a chairperson of many groups, writing successful grant applications, working with various partners, and completing successful projects. I look forward to continuing to serve our community and to representing the people of Red Hook on the town board.

I am a 33 year retired IBM employee with a very eclectic experience. I started as an engineer and shortly moved to the employee training environment. From there my experience included Regional Training Manager, Branch Manager, Management training instructor, and new employee recruiting as well as many varied assignments. After retiring from IBM I ran a small home business. For the last 4 years I have been a member of the Red Hook Town Board. I am also currently serving as the Vice President of the Northern Dutchess Alliance.

What experience and/or training has prepared you to serve in the position you seek?
I have many years experience in general management as well as varied experiences with problem solving assignments in business. As a town board member, I have been actively involved in the creation, passage and implementation of the Centers and Greenspace zoning. With this new zoning in place, we have reduced potential development and sprawl by 60% while protecting our farms and rural character.

At the same time, I have worked to hold the line on tax increases during this period of fiscal stress. As the Vice President of the Northern Dutchess Alliance I have promoted the implementation shared services with neighboring municipalities as the way to reduce the cost of government.

Please share your thoughts on property taxes and any specific related changes or policies you support and will work to pass if elected.
I believe the current property tax system is an unfair and inequitable form of taxation. I believe we need a ceiling on this form of taxation to relieve the pressure on people with low and fixed incomes. A tax cap that limits what a person pays in property taxes based on their income would deliver the relief we need. I have worked to push Albany for such a cap and will continue to support one.

Would you have voted for the recent rezoning plan also known as Centers and Green Spaces plan and why or why not?
The recent zoning changes are the implementation of the vision of the community as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan – one of the prime responsibilities of the town government. As one of the authors of the Centers and Greenspaces zoning I did support it and voted for it. By doing so we have reduced future sprawl by 60%, something that will save us money in the long run. It also enhances the business opportunities for farmers while preserving our town’s rural character.

What is your position on the new highway garage project?
The current highway garage is long overdue for replacement and has become a potential health hazard to town employees. Shared services is an concept that is in its infancy, but is at the future of cost saving in government. The Red Hook highway garage is being built with this in mind. We have been in talks with our villages and have designed the facility in concert with the Red Hook village board with an eye toward sharing the facility with cost savings to both municipalities.

Choose one more important issue facing our town today and how you will handle it.
Managing the finances of the town is near the top of the list. All decisions of the board must continue to be made with cost in mind.

Shared services is the best way for us to lower our town taxes. For the last four years, I have been pushing for a new way for Red Hook to do more with less — saving tax dollars while delivering better, more efficient town services by entering into cooperating agreements with neighboring municipalities. Governor Cuomo is strongly pushing shared services, calling “New York’s antiquated system of local government” an “oversized and inefficient bureaucracy” and “a luxury taxpayers cannot afford.”

After a close look, it’s clear we can do a better job for less money with shared services. We’ve already cut budgets to the bone, so this is the only way to prevent higher taxes without cutting major services. I will continue to champion this program in my next term.

Why should voters pick you on election day?
I believe I have been a strong advocate for all the people of Red Hook for the last four years, and if re-elected I will continue to do so. Red Hook has accomplished much in the last four years and won many awards for our groundbreaking work in protecting our land and saving taxpayer dollars. We cannot afford to turn back. I look forward to helping Red Hook keep moving in the right direction.

The Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council (HVBCTC), Dutchess County Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation (HVALF) unanimously cite Strawinski for her “commitment to addressing the needs of all hardworking men and women.”

“There is no better place than Red Hook. I am extremely passionate about our future,” says Strawinski. “I look forward to working as hard as I can for our wonderful town in the legislature.”

Now in her last year of a four year term as an elected member of the Town Board of Red Hook, Strawinski is known for her can-do, tireless efforts on behalf of her fellow residents. She has helped lead the fight for more efficient, tax-saving town budgets and land-use laws that are laying the foundation for more jobs and economic growth.

“In these hard times, we must work together to make sure Red Hook continues to offer the best in education, economic opportunity and commitment to the future,” Strawinski says. “I intend to get the job done in Poughkeepsie.”

“Micki will appear on the Democratic and Working Families lines on November 8th.”

Recognized for their respect and fairness as well as decades of professional legal experience, Hon. Jeffrey C. Martin and Hon. Jonah Triebwasser were selected for second terms as Red Hook Town Justice.

Town Board incumbent Harry Colgan and Red Hook Conservation Advisory Council Chair Brenda Cagle, both known for nearly a decade’s work protecting Red Hook’s rural quality of life through programs like Centers & Greenspaces, were elected to run for Red Hook Town Board.

Current Highway superintendent Theresa Burke was chosen to run for reelection as Town Highway Superintendent, following several years of successful management of the Town’s highway department.

While Burke is a member of the Independence party and Martin is a registered Republican, both are known for their outstanding commitment to the entire community, reflecting a core principle of the Red Hook Democratic Party.

County candidates endorsed include Micki Strawinski for County Legislator, Dan French for County Executive and Marco Caviglia for Family Court Judge. Strawinski is currently serving on the Red Hook Town Board where she has been integral in helping protect the Town from unfair tax increases.

We thank Daniel for his thoughtful entry and wish him well in his future pursuits.

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Graduate from Red Hook High School in June 2011
• Have subsequent study plans in the 2011-12 academic year; this could be attending college, university, technical institute, vocational training, trade school or other postsecondary education program or a non-paid internship;
• Demonstrate a commitment to your community;
• Complete the following application;
• Create a project; the project guidelines are on the next page; projects will be evaluated in terms of creativity, quality of thought, research and persuasive expression;

Please complete all sections of the scholarship application.

Project and application form must be submitted or postmarked no later than Monday, April 11, 2011.

Democrats honor Glenn Goldstein & Susan Goodman-Goldstein

Democrats from Red Hook and elsewhere in Dutchess County gathered at the farm of Chris and Sarah Gilbert to salute longtime Democratic activists Glenn Goldstein and Susan Goodman Goldstein. Many thanks to all who attended and to Vicky Perry and Sarah Gilbert for organizing the event.

An important voting reform bill passed in the Assembly last week. New York State’s absentee ballot application will be simplified if it passes the State Senate, too. Only 5 members took the radical position to oppose the reform. Assemblyman Molinaro was one of the 5 “NO” votes.

The simplified form would require less personal supporting information, like the name of the voter’s physician – information that some voters might prefer not to provide on a publicly available document. And by eliminating the requirement for that information, the new law would also eliminate an excuse for election lawyers to throw out votes cast when that information wasn’t provided, by oversight or out of privacy concerns.

The bill was popular and passed despite Molinaro’s opposing vote. It passed by a huge margin, 137 yays to only 5 nays. The majority of Republicans even voted for it. Now, the reform measure moves to the Senate for a vote.

Molinaro defended his “NO” vote, saying voters should provide specific information such as names of doctors or hospitals when they ask to vote absentee. “You need a note when you’re home sick from school…” What he fails to say is that a note for the teacher doesn’t require personal information like a doctor’s name. The other thing he doesn’t say is that a note would still be required – the voter would still have to complete a form and swear to the truth of it.

Molinaro complained that criticism of his “NO” vote was unfair, claiming it must be a partisan attack. Yet his “NO” vote against the bill was either hypocritical or a flip-flop. Molinaro is listed as a multi-sponsor on the bill!

Why did Molinaro sponsor the bill and then vote against it (along with Assemblyman Tedisco)? Molinaro may want to reduce absentee voting in the Hudson Valley. Remember the bruising loss of the Congressional seat last Spring – a contest that Republican frontrunner Tedisco lost when all the absentee votes were tallied? That race was closely watched, as Republicans tried to suppress large numbers of absentee votes cast in Columbia County.

Columbia County Democratic Commissioner of Elections Virginia Martin said that, although Molinaro had told the Register Star that he had spoken with “election commissioners” about the bill, he had not spoken to her. Concerning his claim that the bill would encourage more litigation, she said with surprise, “It’s his party that’s been doing the litigating.” Of the absentee ballot application, Martin said, “I think it should be less intrusive. The fact is that the voter, when applying for a ballot, swears to the truth of his or her statements, and I don’t see where those very personal bits of information are necessary.”

Molinaro doesn’t take criticism, such as that leveled by Columbia County’s Chris Nolan, very well. Molinaro said “I think it’s unfortunate that political leaders… want to turn what are very serious issues into party fights.” Serious issue? Molinaro has over 250 press releases posted – not one of which deals with the serious issue of improving absentee voting.

Assemblyman Molinaro called the Election Law “archaic” yet he refuses to fix these very same rules for absentee voting.