Eric Alexander, a Democrat incumbent running for reelection to his seat in the County Legislature representing Amenia, Washington and a part of Pleasant Valley, is facing a challenge in the general election from Republican Stefanie Hubert on Nov. 3. The Millerton News asked each candidate where they stood on issues that impact northeast Dutchess County residents.
Republican Stefanie Hubert
With regards to housing, how do you balance affordability against preserving the rural character of District 25?
My priority would be a county-supported housing rehabilitation initiative that uses existing state and federal grants to help property owners renovate vacant buildings, create apartments above storefronts, and develop accessory dwelling units where local zoning permits. I would prioritize housing opportunities for working families, seniors, and first responders, with clear affordability requirements tied to public funding.
What is the county’s role in supporting farms, including solar siting, farmland preservation and the pressure from development?
Agriculture is essential to Dutchess County’s economy, heritage, and rural character. The county must help keep farming economically viable through farmland preservation, conservation easements, and programs that connect farmers with new markets and opportunities.
I support renewable energy, but large-scale solar projects should not come at the expense of our most productive farmland. Rooftops, parking areas, and previously developed properties should be prioritized, with careful consideration of environmental impacts and local concerns. Farmers and property owners deserve a meaningful voice in land-use decisions. We cannot claim to support agriculture while allowing the farmland that sustains it to disappear. The county should be a partner in keeping farms profitable and preserving agriculture for future generations.
EMS coverage gaps are a major concern in northern Dutchess. What role should the county play versus towns and volunteer agencies?
Northern Dutchess faces challenges with long travel distances, staffing shortages, and declining volunteer participation. I would push for an EMS coverage assessment using response times, call volumes, and staffing data to identify gaps, particularly overnight and during weekdays. I would prioritize strategically stationed supplemental ambulances and paramedic fly cars, shared staffing between municipalities, and expanded EMT recruitment and training.
Small rural towns cannot continue absorbing rising EMS costs independently and passing them along through higher property taxes. The county should coordinate regional coverage, pursue shared services and available grants, and reduce duplication while strengthening local volunteer and municipal agencies.
Hudson Valley residents have protested ICE operations in neighboring Orange County. Should Dutchess County agencies cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
I support enforcing immigration laws while protecting constitutional rights and due process. Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, but Dutchess County law enforcement should cooperate with federal authorities when legally appropriate, particularly in cases involving serious criminal activity or threats to public safety.
Any cooperation must comply with state and federal law, and county taxpayers should not be burdened with responsibilities that belong to the federal government. As a county legislator, I would provide oversight of county policies, funding, and agreements while respecting the Sheriff’s law enforcement authority.
Last year’s race in this district was decided by just 41 votes. What would you say to the voters who supported your opponent, and name one issue where you’d break with your own party.
As a business owner and executive director, I have worked across party lines to solve problems and deliver results. I would bring that approach to the Legislature. I would break with my party on any development proposal that threatens farmland, water resources, or our rural character without adequate protections. I would also oppose wasteful spending regardless of which party proposes it.
Democrat Eric Alexander
With regards to housing, how do you balance affordability against preserving the rural character of District 25?
In the Town of Washington, where I serve on the planning board, we are clear in our priorities of focusing development on our village while preserving the rural nature of the surrounding town. To that end, we recently approved the subdivision of a 100 plus acre farm into five building lots but prohibited forever any further subdivision of the land.
We have also encouraged the reuse and refurbishment of existing structures in the Village of Millbrook, particularly in areas designated for hospitality. By preserving the facades of our older buildings while expanding, modernizing and making more efficient their interiors, we hope to retain the charm of our village while allowing it to grow.
What is the county’s role in supporting farms, including solar siting, farmland preservation and the pressure from development?
The County supports farms through the Dutchess County Cornell Cooperative-Extension, which provides education, technical assistance, and agricultural expertise to farmers throughout Dutchess County, and the Dutchess County Agricultural Navigator. Although the county does not control local zoning or solar site permitting, it provides technical assistance to municipalities and advocates for farmland preservation. Through agricultural districts, farmland protection planning, and conservation easements, the County can help preserve agricultural land and reduce development pressures.
We have an incredibly rich history of farming here in Dutchess County and we need to do everything we can to ensure that farmers are supported, and farmland is protected for generations to come.
EMS coverage gaps are a major concern in northern Dutchess. What role should the county play versus towns and volunteer agencies?
I have been working with a group of four town supervisors to develop a new, collaborative EMS program that will improve coverage while reducing the cost of private ambulance service to each town.
Under the new plan, there will be no stationary ambulances within the four towns. Each call for service will trigger other ambulances to reposition and activate backups from both the county and the private provider. By repositioning ambulances and bringing dedicated backup units closer, the plan improves coverage for all towns.
This collaborative effort is projected to reduce the overall cost of service by more than $700,000.
Hudson Valley residents have protested ICE operations in neighboring Orange County. Should Dutchess County agencies cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?
No Dutchess County agency should cooperate with ICE until its mission is made clear, its tactics are brought into line with our state and federal constitutions and its agents are trained and held fully accountable for their actions.
Dutchess County should follow New York state law, which prohibits local law enforcement and counties from assisting in federal civil immigration enforcement.
Our local government and law enforcement should be focused on keeping residents safe and ensuring that everyone is treated fairly under the law.
Last year’s race in this district was decided by just 41 votes. What would you say to the voters who supported your opponent, and name one issue where you’d break with your own party.
Voters who supported my opponent last year should be pleased that my focus has been on issues related to public safety, such as strengthening EMS, protecting their privacy from surveillance cameras, ending animal abuse, and reducing taxes and wasteful government spending. I am steadfast in my commitment to serve all constituents in my district and will do so even if it means breaking with my own party.
