POUGHKEEPSIE — Rachel Kashimer has been appointed to serve as Dutchess County deputy county executive and chief of staff under William F. X. O’Neil, who held those roles himself until he was sworn in as county executive on Jan. 3.
In her new position, Kashimir will oversee senior staff in charge of administration and act on behalf of O’Neil when he is away from the county, according to a press release from the county executive’s office.
Kashimer began working in Dutchess County government in 2012. She has held positions such as budget assistant and research analyst as well as her most recent role as assistant county executive focused on COVID operations, which saw her serving as community liaison to municipal, education, business, health care, and other sectors. She also oversaw and managed a number of lead county projects.
Dutchess County Legislature Chair Gregg Pulver commented on Kashimer’s appointment in the press release: “Rachel . . . has been a wealth of knowledge and has always been ready and willing to work with the Legislature to deliver real results to the residents of our community.
“Rachel has been an incredible leader, beginning as a Budget Assistant and growing to oversee programmatic and Departmental initiatives, and I know she will continue to offer strong proposals and solutions that will only better our County going forward as she adapts to her new role as the Deputy County Executive.”
Kashimer holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a Master of Business Administration from Marist College. She lives in Wappinger with her husband and 3-year-old son.
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
