2019 Candidate Profile: Marc Molinaro For County Executive

RED HOOK, NY — The Hudson Valley will have several contested races in this fall's election, including the race for 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.

Republican Marc Molinaro, 43, of Red Hook, is running for re-election as Dutchess County executive. He will also appear on the Conservative and Independence party lines. His opponent is Democrat Joseph Ruggiero.

Molinaro has been county executive since 2012. He previously was a state assemblyman, county legislator and mayor of the Village of Tivoli. He is married to Corinne Adams and they have four children.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our community is affordability, and this is what I intend to do about it:

• Largest tax cut in 20 years
• Cutting county taxes six years in a row
• Drove down unemployment to a 17-year low
• 23 consecutive months of positive job growth
• 8 percent growth in wages in eight years

In Dutchess County, we are every day building a future of opportunity to live, work, and raise a family, at home here in the Hudson Valley.

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

We are cutting county taxes six years in a row. My opponent raised taxes by 24 percent. We’ve led the way with 23 consecutive months of positive private-sector job growth with $5 billion in new or pending economic development. My opponent imposed a 50 percent toll on daily commuters crossing the Hudson River.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

• Standing up for families with new resources to treat mental illness and addiction and support for our kids
• Welcoming residents who #ThinkDifferently with nationally recognized support for those with disabilities
• Named a Climate Smart Community for our county’s commitment to clean energy

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

When I took office in 2012, the county’s unemployment rate was nearly 8 percent, the highest annual average since 1993. Last year, our annual average unemployment rate hit a 17-year low, and Dutchess County has benefited from 23 straight months of positive job growth.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

My grandfather once told me, “If you do a good and honest job, people will take notice.”

Every day of my career, and indeed over the last eight years as County Executive, I’ve strived to do just that: perform a good and honest job for the people I represent. Years from now, the people of Dutchess County won’t remember resolutions or local laws; they’ll remember the people, for good or bad, who worked for them. My goal has been to leave a positive lasting memory, a legacy of service that transcends party politics and results in meaningful impacts for the residents of Dutchess County.

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

I have a passion for Dutchess County — our people, our way of life, and the special small-town charm that make us distinctly Dutchess. I know, firsthand, how special a place Dutchess County is to live and raise a family, and I have been honored to serve as County Executive for the past eight years. I have the best job in Dutchess County, getting to meet residents each day who are similarly passionate about our county and discuss topics that interest them. I appreciate the support I’ve received from the residents of Dutchess as we’ve worked together to strengthen the county in which we all take pride. Our work is not done, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to make Dutchess County stronger, healthier, and safer.

Find and “Like” Hudson Valley Patches' Facebook Pages.