Comptroller race attracts Democratic challenger

Dutchess County Decides 2024

POUGHKEEPSIE — One of the many races on the ballot this November in Dutchess County is for County Comptroller.

Current comptroller A. Gregg Pulver, a Republican, is going head-to-head with Democrat Dan Aymar-Blair for the seat.

Pulver became the comptroller at the beginning of 2024 when Robin Lois, his predecessor, took a job in state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office. “With my years of experience running budgets and county government, they thought I would be a good fit,” Pulver said.

Pulver has worked in agriculture and government at the local and county levels for years. This experience has given him a lot of exposure to budgets on the legislative side. As comptroller, he said, Pulver tries to work with legislators and not against them. “We try to solve problems,” Pulver said. “Not create problems.”

Aymar-Blair, Pulver’s Democratic challenger, said he wants to bring a more critical, direct approach to the comptroller’s office. Although the comptroller is not a policy-making office, Blair said the comptroller should take a more active role in county government, issuing reports with strong, evidence-based arguments for or against spending.

Aymar-Blair said he’s had years of experience managing and auditing budgets, including for New York City Public Schools where he’s managed a budget as large as Dutchess County’s since 2009. On top of his day job, Aymar-Blair has been involved in political activism and non-profits, and he’s currently finishing out his third term as Beacon City Councilman.

Aymar-Blair has some big plans if elected to comptroller. “Eventually I want to get to every department,” Aymar-Blair said. He sees reporting as a huge part of the job, and a source of power for the comptroller that’s under utilized.

“Looking at the long-term finances of the county, I’d like to see the county make more investments that save us money over time,” Aymar-Blair said. He believes the county is over-reliant on sales tax, and the more than $1 billion in pension and other fiscal obligations makes him nervous for a potential downturn and decline in sales tax revenue, especially after Albany failed to approve sales tax increases recently.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. More information on how to register to vote can be found at elections.ny.gov.

Latest News

Millbrook Scout completes Eagle Scout leadership work to benefit Angels of Light

Celebrating the completion of his Eagle Scout leadership project to benefit Angels of Light on Friday, March 21, Jayden Loibl, 17, was joined by Angels of Light co-Executive Directors, Lori Cassia-Decker, left, and Danielle Mollica.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Capping a lifetime of scouting achievement, Jayden Loibl, 17, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, completing a community project to handcraft outdoor benches and tables for the local nonprofit Angels of Light building at 28 Front St.

In addition to overseeing the construction of sturdy benches and tables that invite passersby to try them out, Loibl’s major project also created a Love Lock Pillar, and finished off the project by making stencil templates of the nonprofit’s logo to be used to identify the space and invite visitors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia approves sidewalk projectalong Route 44
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Pedestrians will soon be able to walk safely between Broadway and Beekman Park, now that a construction contract has been awarded.

The planning process continued for many months, culminating in an invitation to bid. The Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 20, to select the lowest bidder, clearing the way for work to begin.

Keep ReadingShow less
Science confirms: It was a cold winter

Spring has officially arrived with freezing night time temperatures forecast through the first week of April.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Victoria Kelly, Cary Institute Environmental Monitoring Program Manager and Senior Ecologist, prepared this report.

MILLBROOK — Since 1988 the weather station at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the Town of Washington has been keeping track of our local weather — precipitation, temperature, wind, air quality, etc.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East Fire District focuses on budget, spending

The North East Fire house on the south side of Century Boulevard.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

MILLERTON — The commissioners of the North East Fire District recently held their monthly meeting at the firehouse to discuss their current needs and general business.

Discussion centered around the current work on the 2025 budget and proposed expenditures, which ranged from upgrading their heating/cooling system to the possibility of replacing car no. 3.

Keep ReadingShow less