Chair of Legislature Pulver may run to lead county in ‘23

PINE PLAINS — Chairman of the Dutchess County Legislature Gregg Pulver (R-19), a multi-generational Pine Plains farmer and longtime local public servant, is considering stepping into the role now served by three-term Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro.

The popular Republican county executive is stepping away from the top county position to make a run for Congress with more than a year left in his term. Molinaro is campaigning for the seat formerly held by recently-appointed Lt. Governor Antonio Delgado.

Delgado steps up

Delgado, a Democrat, was the former U.S. representative for Congressional District 19. Governor Kathy Hochul appointed him to fill the vacancy left open when former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin resigned in disgrace after being arrested for fraud, bribery and falsification of records.

Delgado was sworn into office on May 25 and will appear on the Democratic primary ballot in the 2022 election for lieutenant governor.

Congressional District 19

That leaves plenty of room for the those seeking to land in Delgado’s former stomping grounds, like Molinaro, who will be running on the Republican and the Conservative Party primaries for District 19 on Aug. 23. Brandon Buccola is also running in the Republican primary for the seat.

Josh Riley, from a Harvard Law School grad from Endicott, N.Y., is running in the Democratic and the Working Families Party primaries while Jamie Cheney, a businesswoman and Millerton beef farmer, is running in the Democratic primary for District 19.

Pulver ponders top county position

Pulver, meanwhile, said he’s formed a committee to help him make the all-important decision, one he hopes to have finalized by August at the latest.

“I’m still slightly undecided; the support I’m getting, though, is overwhelming,” he said. “I have people calling me, and people that I certainly respect are encouraging me to run. We’re discussing it as a family and how it affects everything.”

The head of the Dutchess County Legislature said that his wife, Tonya, and his daughter have been encouraging him and offering him support.

“My wife has been very supportive, and my daughter loves the idea,” said Pulver. “I certainly would love to run. If I run as chairman of the Legislature it helps me represent the county.”

Pulver added once Molinaro steps down, his unexpired term will be filled by Deputy County Executive William O’Neill.

O’Neill is a Republican who has been a part the Molinaro administration for the past decade but has never actually been elected to serve in public office.

If Pulver decides to run, it would not be until the 2023 General Election. Yet there are benefits he’s already excited about when considering his decades in public service.

That career includes serving on his hometown of Pine Plains’ school district’s Board of Education (BOE) and in his town volunteering on its Conservation Advisory Council (CAC), its Board of Assessment Review (BAR), its Planning Board and also serving for 12 years as its town supervisor.

“I’ve been on this a long time working in the trenches,” said Pulver. “I’ve been active in the fire company, the rescue squad; I’ve done a lot. I’ve been on the National Ski Patrol for 39 years now; I’d have to curtail my involvement with that to a certain degree… And now I’ve really enjoyed getting around the county and meeting people, that’s another positive toward this.”

Yet throughout those many years of serving his community, Pulver has always only held two-year terms, he said.

“I’ve never had a four-year term — in anything,” he said. “Town supervisor was two years, and county legislator was two years. I would love to have a four-year term.”

Despite brief terms, Pulver keeps getting re-elected. He is now serving his ninth year in the Legislature representing District 19, which serves the towns of North East, Stanford, Pine Plains and Milan. He has also been elected by his fellow legislators to serve as chairman of the Legislature for the past five years.

“I’m very proud of the work we’ve done. Some of my peers are my strongest advocates getting me to try to run,” he said, adding, “I have the utmost respect for what Marcus has done for the last 11 years now as county executive; I think certainly him and I have worked well together for the last nine years and I think I’ve added to the success of Dutchess County. That’s what’s making me lean toward running.

“I’ve got a great record,” he added. “The best editorial I ever had was in The Millerton News. It said that once I start a project, I finish it.”

Pulver said he hopes his constituents will reach out to him about whether he should make a run for the county executive office. Voters are welcome to call his cell phone at 914-474-0908 or to email him at gpulver@dutchessny.gov.

Latest News

Stephen S. Myers

LAKEVILLE — Stephen S. Myers, 82, of Lakeville, (formerly of New York City, Almond, New York, Kane’ohe, Hawaii, and Fair Oaks, California) passed away peacefully at his home on Nov. 30, 2024. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth “Betsy” (Phelan), his two sons Matthew and Shepherd, two nephews and three nieces.

Stephen was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, on Oct. 29, 1942, the son of the late Elwood Mosman and Donnie Marguerite Myers. Growing up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Stephen struggled with dyslexia in multiple high schools, ultimately graduating from Avon Old Farms High School in Avon, Connecticut.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ella L. Clark

WEST CORNWALL — Ella L. Clark, 83, a social worker, writer, and lover of nature and the Post Office, died Nov. 7, 2024 at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, after an acute stroke. Her family was with her in her last week.

Ella was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin S. and Charlotte L. Clark, her brother, Benjamin Clark, and her sister Tib Clark. Ella is survived by her daughter, Cristina Mathews of Fort Bragg, California, and her husband Jason and son Milo, her son Alexander Mathews, of Newton, Massachusetts, and his wife Olivia and children Ariana, Damian, and Torey, her daughter Jessica Meyer, of Pacific Palisades, California, and her husband Tim and children Ione and Nikos; and her sister Charlotte de Bresson of Paris.

Keep ReadingShow less
David Graeme Townsend

SALISBURY — David Graeme Townsend was born July 23, 1930, in Mineola, New York, to Rachel Townsend (Maxtone-Graham) and Greenough Townsend. David and his older brother Antone grew up in New York City and Long Island. Some of his early life was spent in Scotland in his mother’s family home, Cultoquhey, which is near Perth in the Highlands. Here he enjoyed summers with all his Maxtone-Graham cousins. Many of these cousins would remain close with David for his entire life. One cousin, Charles Smythe, even came to America to live with David and his family during the war where Charles became like a brother to David and Antone. David went to St. George’s in Newport, Rhode Island for a while and then on to Lawrenceville in New Jersey. He finished high school at the Basil Patterson School in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Immediately after high school, David enrolled in the US Marine Corps and served two tours in the Korean War. He was always very proud of his military service. After his service David attended the Sorbonne University in Paris for two years and then the University of Madrid for one year. Even though David never finished his formal education, he always remained an avid student of history and language. In his travels his skill with foreign languages was sometimes a problem because he spoke with such a good accent that it was sometimes falsely assumed that he was fluent.

Keep ReadingShow less
Richard George Ralph

EAST CANAAN — Richard George Ralph, 84, a beloved father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on Dec. 4, 2024, at his home in East Canaan, surrounded by his family. Born on Sept. 23, 1940, in Cornwall, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Marie (Kennedy) Ralph Negri and George Yeaton Ralph Jr.

Richard was the proud owner and operator of Richard Ralph and Son Rubbish Removal for many years. Known for his strong work ethic and reliability, he built a trusted business that served the community. After his retirement, his son Richard took over the reins, continuing the family tradition. Richard’s friendly demeanor meant that there weren’t many in the area who didn’t know him, and all were met with warm greetings and hearty waves.

Keep ReadingShow less