2019 Candidate Profile: Joseph Ruggiero For County Executive

WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY — The Hudson Valley will have several contested races in this fall's election, including the Dutchess County executive. Mid-Hudson Valley Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Joseph Ruggiero, 49, a Democrat from Wappingers Falls, is running for Dutchess County executive. His opponent is Republican incumbent Marc Molinaro.

Ruggiero is married with one son. He was previously the executive director of the New York State Bridge Authority. Ruggiero was also appointed assistant state comptroller and was elected Town of Wappinger supervisor for three terms and Town of Wappinger councilman for four terms.

The single most pressing issue facing our community, and what I intend to do about it.

Taxes. For the last eight years our taxes have been raised 18 times. I intent to stop raising our taxes on our citizens and give no deal tax breaks to large companies.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have a mix of private, elected and public sector experience. My opponent is a career politician with no private sector experience.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

The trash incinerator the people of Dutchess County owns is one of the worst polluters in the nation, and PFOAs contaminate our water. The incinerator releases 16 pounds of mercury into the air every year. Exposure to 1 gram of mercury is enough to kill a human being.

We are paying more county sales tax than our neighbors. We are paying more in clothing sales tax than New York City. The most ambitious project the county has proposed and the largest expenditure in our history is $192 million-dollar jail. We have seen the second-highest number of opioid deaths in New York State.

Dutchess County has cut many services for mental health, senior transportation, to youth programs. While our county budget grows, residents are not seeing the benefits of their government at work

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Taxes — Marc Molinaro has raised taxes 18 times in the past eight years, we need to lighten the tax burden on our citizens.

Environment — We have worse air quality rating than Orange County, and have limited testing on our well waters. We need to protect our environmental resources here in Dutchess County.

Jobs — Currently, 1 in 3 people leave the county to find work, we need to bring real jobs into Dutchess.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I started my career in the telecom industry, served four terms as Wappinger Town Councilman and three terms as Supervisor. I served as assistant comptroller to Tom DiNapoli and went on to be executive director of the New York State Bridge Authority.

As councilman and supervisor, I lowered taxes for seniors and veterans. I allowed seniors to deduct medical costs to lower their propriety taxes. I expanded the town’s infrastructure. I made our water safer to drink. At the bridge authority, I kept our tolls the lowest in the nation, and developed a 20-year capital plan investing $600 million into critical infrastructure, providing quality jobs to Hudson Valley residents.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Treat people kindly. Treat others as you would want to be treated.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Although many don’t realize it, the county executive has a more direct impact on our daily lives than anyone in Washington. As councilman and supervisor, I lowered taxes for seniors and veterans. I allowed seniors to deduct medical costs to lower their propriety taxes. I expanded the Town’s infrastructure. I made our water safer to drink. At the bridge authority, I kept our tolls the lowest in the nation, and developed a twenty-year capital plan investing $600 million into critical infrastructure, providing quality jobs to Hudson Valley residents.

I will drive economic development by developing a public-private partnership to bring fiber-optic broadband to every house and business in Dutchess. I will take on corruption by implementing my reform agenda. This will create an office of the inspector general, a county Hatch Act, and prohibit county contractors from contributing to political campaigns.

I will expand our county services and make them accessible for all residents, especially for our seniors and children. I will work to expand mental health services and provide support to not only those struggling with opioid addiction, but their families as well. I will work with the County Legislature to lower our sales taxes, and eliminate the sales tax on clothing under $110 to drive economic growth and attract more small business. These are just a few of the policies I intend to implement. These are all tenets of my comprehensive plan, the Dutchess County Compact.

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