High turnout as Republican Committee caucuses on July 13

MABBETTSVILLE — The Town of Washington’s Republican Committee held its caucus on Tuesday, July 13, at the Town of Washington Park in Mabbettsville. In spite of the rather dreary and wet evening, 101 people turned out for the event. Held under the covered pavilion, there were no surprises announced by Republican Committee Chair Cathy Shanks, as most of the nominees were pre-determined when the Democrats caucused on Thursday, June 24. The Democrats only nominated one candidate for the Millbrook Village Board at their caucus, but none for the Washington Town Board. 

The July 13 Republican Caucus, on the other hand, only nominated candidates for the Town of Washington elections come November. There are three councilmember seats on the Town Board up for election as well as the town supervisor’s position. 

Nominated for town supervisor was the man who currently holds the position, Gary Ciferri, who is running for another four-year term starting Jan 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2025. Ciferri has been serving as town supervisor since 2012. So far he is running unopposed.

Also nominated for the Washington Town Board were current Councilmen Stephen Turletes, Michael Murphy and Joseph Rochfort. 

Turletes has been on the board since 1995; Murphy has served on the board from 2005 to 2008 and then again from 2016 to the present; and Rochfort is currently filling the unexpired term of the late Councilman Al De Bonis until year’s end. De Bonis passed away mid-term unexpectedly. Rochfort now has to run for a full term in November’s General Election. He previously served as trustee on the Millbrook Village Board from 2018 to 2020.

Shanks said she was surprised, but happily so, with the turnout for the caucus, especially considering the bad weather.

“I was so pleased with the turnout last night of over 100 people,” Shanks said, “and happy to have such a great slate of incumbents running again in November. The Town of Washington is a fantastic community to live in and this is due to the good people on the Town Board and Town Committees.” 

Independent ticket:

Also running for the Washington Town Board seats are Andrew Spence, Leslie Heaney and Doug Giles, all of whom are running on as-of-yet unannounced independent party lines rather than either the Republican or Democratic tickets.

County race

Incumbent County Legislator Deirdre Houston (R-25) has also announced she is running for re-election. She is being challenged by newcomer Daniel Hutnik, a Democrat from Amenia.

Because the Dutchess County Legislature just announced last week that it has approved downsizing the number of county legislators from 25 to 21, there is a chance that Harlem Valley districts may be redrawn, which could impact District 25, which includes Washington, Millbrook and Dover. 

That move, however, still has to be approved by voters come November through a public referendum on the ballot, so it is very much up in the air at the moment.