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Towns to hold candidate events ahead of elections

DUTCHESS COUNTY —  A number of events to introduce the public to their local political candidates will be occurring in the next couple of weeks.

The North East/Millerton Democratic Committee will hold a Fall Meet and Treat event on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the pavilion in Eddie Collins Park, 5989 N. Elm Ave. Candidates for county-wide positions who will be attendance include Tommy Zurhellen, candidate for Dutchess County executive; Kenya Gadsden, candidate for Dutchess County clerk; Anthony Parisi, candidate for Dutchess County district attorney; James Rogers, candidate for Dutchess County Family Court judge; and Chris Drago, candidate for Dutchess County Legislature, District 19. 

Candidates from the Town of North East who will be participating in the event include town board members Lana Morrison and Meg Winkler and North East Town Clerk Elizabeth “Tilly” Strauss.

Music as well as tacos and beverages will be provided free of charge for members of the public who attend.

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m., The Millerton News and the Hudson Valley League of Women Voters (LWV) will co-sponsor a Meet the Candidates night at Webutuck High School, 194 Haight Road in Amenia. Participants in the event will include Republican incumbent Victoria Perotti and Democrat Leo Blackman, candidates for Amenia town supervisor; and Democrat incumbent Vicky Doyle, Democrat Rosanna Hamm and Republican Paul Winters, all running for the two open seats on the Amenia Town Board.

The event will be moderated by Jolanda Jansen of LWV, who will be accompanied by an LWV time-keeper to ensure the candidates don’t exceed the time allotted for questions asked of them by audience members. 

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. The Millerton News and the New Pine Plains Herald will cosponsor a candidates’ forum in the Community Room at the Pine Plains Free Library, 7775 S. Main St. in Pine Plains. Moderated by Ryan Orton of Stanford, the event will include Republican Gregg Pulver and Democrat Chris Drago, running for Dutchess County Legislature, District 19; Republicans Paul Murphy and Jim Smith, and Democrats Jeanine Sisco and Kevin Walsh, candidates for Pine Plains Town Board; Democrat Carl Baden and Republican Lisa Ambrose, candidates for highway superintendent; and Republican Rich Brenner and Democrat Stella Isaza, running for town justice.

There are also two candidates who are running unopposed for positions—Town Supervisor Brian Walsh and Town Clerk Madelin Dafoe—who will speak briefly.

This article has been updated to correct the time of the Oct. 11 Meet The Candidates night.

Emily Edelman

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The Millerton News - September 10, 2026

The Millerton News - September 10, 2026

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