State Sen. Sue Serino fights to stay in office

DUTCHESS COUNTY — New York State Senator Sue Serino (R-41) has filled her two-year term position five times since 2015 — now she’s seeking her sixth term. Having accumulated much political expertise in that time, she also brought with her a background in business and real estate. Serino vows to continue to fight tax and fee increases based on New York City politicians, and points to her leading the way in securing personal income tax cuts in Albany. She said she’s also been front and center in securing tax cuts for local homeowners.

Serino knows Dutchess County well, having been raised here. And she also knows the trials and tribulations families go through living in the county, including the hardships of being a single parent. As a single mother she worked hard; she worked as a waitress, quickly rising to become a restaurant manager. The birth of her son, Anthony, precipitated a move into the childcare business.

Being born into a family of immigrants, Serino said she recognized the value of both education and hard work early on. Realizing the importance and advantages of being a homeowner, she became interested in real estate, and in helping her neighbors, family and friends achieve the American Dream of owning their own home. That was in 1996, when she open a real estate office in the city of Poughkeepsie. By 2003, with a sales force of 23, she relocated her business to Hyde Park.

During that time, Serino had been dealing with problems she described as “inherent” in New York State, such as high taxes and bureaucracy; she decided to be proactive and make a change in her community.

In 2010 she ran for and was elected to the Hyde Park Town Board; in 2011 she was elected to the Dutchess County Legislature. She worked diligently to make things more equitable for her hardworking constituents, trying to keep local taxes low. In 2015, she was elected to the State Senate to represent District 41.

Today, Serino sees a far different need in her district, as the coronavirus pandemic has created a new set of problems unique to this time period in Dutchess County.

“The Hudson Valley has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and rebuilding our community needs to be our top priority,” said Serino. “Now, more than ever, we need leaders who know we cannot tax our way out of this disaster and we need leaders who will take an innovative approach to help move our community forward. 

“As someone who has been a working single-mom, I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck and I understand the challenges too many of our neighbors are facing now,” she added. “As a small business owner who has successfully navigated a painful recession in the past, I have the experience and the proven ability to help get our community back on track and I won’t stop working to ensure the Hudson Valley has an independent voice fighting for it in Albany.”

Serino will also be on the Conservative, Independent and Rebuild Our State party lines this Election Day. The state senator is endorsed by the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the National Foundation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) and the Civil Service Employees Association  (CSEA).

She has served on several committees, including the Committees on Aging; Social Services; and Children and Families; as well as Insurance; Legislative Women’s Caucus; and Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.