Meet Your 2025 Town Board
and County Legislative Candidates
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IncumbentAs Town Supervisor since January 2024, Rebecca Edwards has worked to:
Communicate with residents
Address the housing crisis by expanding affordable housing options, including those like home-sharing that also benefit resident homeowners
Protect and expand the town’s green spaces, walking trails, and wildlife preserves
Expand free and low-cost recreation programs for town residents of all ages
Stay below the tax cap, protecting property taxpayers by building new non-property tax revenue sources and increasing effciency
A top priority is developing a cost-effective plan to relocate the Town Police and Courts, which is located on an uncapped landfill and since the 1990s has been sinking into the ground
Born and raised in Virginia, Rebecca has lived in the town of Poughkeepsie for 30 years and raised her family here. A history educator and former Dutchess County legislator, Rebecca helped found the Dutchess-Poughkeepsie Land Bank to get vacant and abandoned properties into the hands of responsible new owners. She has worked with local groups addressing domestic violence and sexual assault and she co-founded the Mid-Hudson Antislavery History Project, to increase public knowledge of local Black and abolitionist history. She and her rescue pup Bella live in Ward 6.
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IncumbentBarb and her husband purchased their house off of Vassar Road in 1998 and raised their two daughters here, where they got a fantastic education in Wappinger District schools. Barb teaches Earth Science and Environmental Science in Newburgh and is a union member of the Newburgh Teacher’s Association.
Barb prides herself on listening to her neighbors and helping solve their problems. She wants to make sure Poughkeepsie residents can find housing they can afford, get excellent services for the taxes they pay and enjoy the beauty that our town and region has to offer. She enjoys diversity in thought, culture and language. She strongly supports environmental initiatives that can save our town money, create jobs and rebuild the electricity grid.
During her first year as a Town Board member she served as Chair of the Joint Water Board, liaison for the Climate Smart Task Force and member of the recreation committee, budget committee and finance committee.
Barb is running again for Town Board because she saw an ability to stand up for all residents of the Town of Poughkeepsie in 2023 and definitely does not want to back down now!
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CandidateShantha Thangiah is a loving husband and a dedicated friend of Poughkeepsie Town. A migrant from Sri Lanka, Shantha's journey began as a teenager when he was hired as a civilian to support the U.S. Navy at the Naval Air Facility on Midway Island. He held various positions, including Airport Supervisor, Network Administrator, and Director of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR).
Shantha is the Chief Financial Officer of a robotics company in Dutchess County and holds an MBA. He has served in various public roles, including NASA Solar System Ambassador, New York State Notary Public, and President of the United Nations Association Mid-Hudson Valley. Shantha is founding a non-profit to promote human rights and sustainability.
He has lived in Poughkeepsie and Wappingers for over 17 years with his wife, Nathalie. Shantha is dedicated to volunteering and believes in improving the community by spending taxpayers' money wisely, finding efficiencies, building climate resilience, and enhancing the quality of life for Poughkeepsie Town residents through sustainable development goals, such as poverty eradication and economic development. He is committed to cleaning up the town and making it safe.
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CandidateEmily is a mother of two and with her partner Evan, is the owner & co-founder of Plan Bee Farm Brewery located on Underhill Road near Peach Hill Park. She began her career in environmental non-profit protection for the Hudson Valley. Using her experience & background, she pioneered the first 100% New York State ingredient based environmentally sustainable brewery. Plan Bee’s mission has never been solely about beer—it’s about soil, land, and how they can best serve their community. Emily is running for Town Board to help preserve open spaces and protect our natural resources.
As a small business owner in Dutchess County for the last 12 years, she has connected with many community members and understands the need for everyone's voices to be heard.
She humbly wants to serve as a representative for all to help provide housing that is affordable, education that is accessible, & local food that is nourishing.
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IncumbentRyan lives in the Spackenkill area with his wife and four children, ages 2 years to thirteen years old. He is accustomed to doing things that are frustrating, demanding, and often exhilarating: an attorney for twenty years, he works in the Dutchess County Public Defender’s office, where he provides advocacy for individuals in Family Court and Criminal Court proceedings while helping them navigate systems that are unfamiliar. Ryan’s motivation comes from serving others who may feel they have been ignored or abandoned.
As a town board member he wants to ensure clean air and water are protected. He will work for fiscal sustainability, transparency, and true oversight, to ensure that we meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.
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IncumbentAnn is a mother and grandmother who is finishing her sixth term on the town board. She is concerned about the cost of the proposed municipal complex at the Poughkeepsie Day School and its impact on property taxes. She has worked to enhancegreen spaces, protect historic properties, and create new recreational opportunities.
Through the Climate Smart Task Force she helped the town achieve Bronze Certification, opening a path to grant funding for conservation and resilience.
Ann has served on the Historical Preservation Commission, Arlington Business Improvement District, Cider Mill Friends, and American Legion Auxiliary. She’s also a town marriage officer– and she has been a Spackenkill Girl Scout cookie manager!
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CandidateNicole and her husband have two daughters ages twelve and sixteen. Nicole works with her husband at their family restaurant. Nicole is currently a member of the Town of Poughkeepsie Planning Board. She has held a position on the board for eight years. Nicole is running for the receiver of taxes position in the Town of Poughkeepsie. She has lived in the town for 41 years and loves Poughkeepsie. She is organized and detail oriented and would be proud to serve the community.
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CandidateWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Trevor is a dedicated community leader, founder of the Poughkeepsie Weekly, Chair of the Town of Poughkeepsie Housing Committee, and a Marist College graduate. He’s running to represent District 1 as your future Dutchess County Legislator. With a passion for housing equity, public safety, economic development, and a clean environment, Trevor has worked to bring neighbors together and advocate for pro-working and middle-class policies. A lifelong Dutchess resident himself, he is committed to building a stronger future for the Hudson Valley — a future where businesses can thrive and everyone can continue to afford to live here.
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CandidateWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Emma Arnoff is a small business owner, mom, little league coach, and social worker focused on making Dutchess County affordable and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to succeed. She is running to represent Lagrange, parts of Pleasant Valley and Poughkeepsie in the Dutchess County Legislature. Emma will focus on improving cost and quality of living and be a dedicated advocate for District 2 and the entire county.
In running and expanding her business, The Sensory Space, Emma has seen firsthand how the growing expenses of daily life are impacting her clients and her bottom line. Just as she has worked diligently to keep her business thriving, she will engage with county agencies and leaders to find new ways to support small business growth and bring costs down for our community.
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CandidateWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Brendan was born and raised in Dutchess County; his father was a corrections officer at Green Haven and his mother taught elementary grades in Wappingers Central School District. His parents – and his Roman Catholic faith – helped him understand the importance of helping others from a very young age. Brendan attended St. Martin de Porres before graduating from Arlington High School in 1996. He next graduated from the College of St. Rose with a Social Studies, Secondary Education degree in 2001. Brendan started as a leave replacement at FDR high school in 2002 and accepted a full-time teaching position at Arlington high school in 2003, where he works today. Brendan met his future wife, Katie, on a blind date at the Eveready Diner. They married in 2013 and have a son who attends North Park Elementary and will enter first grade this fall. Brendan’s family, faith, and friends continue to guide him on his mission of public service.
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CandidateWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Anna is a lifelong Dutchess County resident and graduate of Spackenkill High School, is an attorney and advocate committed to public safety, expanding healthcare access, supporting families, and ensuring transparency and accountability in government spending. As a mother of two, she understands the challenges facing Dutchess County families and is dedicated to helping residents succeed by fostering opportunities for personal and community growth.
Anna is passionate about building a stronger, more connected, and inclusive community for District 5 and for all residents of Dutchess County.
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CandidateWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Kaul, Dutchess County Legislator, District 6, is a dedicated educator, community leader, and advocate. Kaul spearheaded the campaign to save Poughkeepsie’s Arthur S. May Elementary from closure and served on the Arlington Central School District’s Board of Education. She co-organized the 2017 Poughkeepsie Women’s March Across the Hudson and the 2017 Dutchess Activist Fair. She has worked extensively with local non-profits, and has served on the Impact Council of the Dutchess-Orange United Way, the After-School Working Group of the Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet, the board of Finish Strong, as well as managing a boys Soccer Club team. She currently organizes the Poughkeepsie Repair Café, serves on the board of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund, and volunteers at the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site gardens growing vegetables for Dutchess Outreach. Her contributions have been recognized by the Barrett Art Center and the Real Skills Network, which awarded her the Rosa Parks “Community Icon” Award.
Kaul is the first AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) woman to serve in the Dutchess Legislature, where she serves on its Environment, Government Services & Administration and Airport Advisory committees, the Climate Smart Communities Task Force, the Environmental Management Council, and the Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council.
Kaul is a 2nd vice-chair of the Dutchess Democratic Committee and represented Dutchess as a delegate to the DNC IN 2024.
Kaul grew up in India, and received her B.A. from the University of Delhi, India. A Rhodes Scholar, she earned a PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology from the University of Oxford. She lives in district 6 with her husband, mother, and rescue dog.
Significant achievements in the Legislature:
Waste management – especially the disposal of our waste through incineration – has been a major concern for constituents in district 6. Working across the aisle, Kaul was able to pass a bi-partisan amendment to the budget to fund a study to identify opportunities and implementation strategies for waste reduction and waste diversion. The study will also explore alternative technologies for disposal as well as opportunities for jobs and economic growth in the waste diversion and reuse sector. This is remarkable given that she is a first-year legislator in the minority caucus.
Served as a dogged watchdog in the Legislature. Her pointed questions around the finances of the Homeless shelter led the Republican administration to create a website dedicated to information about the shelter. Similarly, she pointed out inaccuracies in a resolution which led the Republican majority to table a resolution. Last month, she was instrumental in getting Republicans to postpone and re-think a resolution identifying individuals who need to complete a financial disclosure in compliance with the county’s code of ethics.
Kaul has supported the allocation of funds for youth and senior programming, childcare, green infrastructure, road safety, mental health and substance use recovery services. She has also advocated for greater accessibility for the disabled and for seniors.
Kaul is actively focused on thinking of ways to create housing that is more affordable and to increase pathways to jobs for young people and those who are mid-career.
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CandidateA lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley, Craig has represented District 8 for the past three years , and has been newly elected to his third term. In his first term, he fought for the approval of the Crisis Stabilization Center for county residents in distress. He led the fight against the Federal government’s proposal to add new anchorage site along the Hudson River, authoring a bipartisan resolution in opposition of the plan.
He also worked with fellow legislators on the legislation to switch the county government over to renewable energy sources in the coming years, a move that will preserve the environment and yield significant cost savings.
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CandidateAlix Winsby is a small business owner, a mom of two children in the Wappingers Central School District, and with her husband Myles Bisi, has lived in the Village of Wappingers Falls for almost a decade. She is a member of the Wappingers Historical Society Board and the New Hamburg/Franny Reese Preserve Steering Committee and was formerly on the Village of Wappingers Falls Planning Board.
She holds a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and an MFA from Hunter College and is a production designer in advertising.
As a county legislator for District 14, she will focus on the environment, work to create more green spaces, and revive Wappinger's greenway trails. I will work with the Legislators and the DOT to make the right-of-way and roadsides safer, including creating more sidewalks, better drainage systems for the safety of our wells, and native plantings to create an environment that promotes walkable neighborhoods.
Neighborhoods that are zoned to match the needs of the community, both in affordability and keeping with the prevailing character of the neighborhoods.
She will work with fellow Legislators to help bring Dutchess County into this century with solutions for the handling of waste, water treatment, and energy uses.
She will work across the aisle to increase the mental health services available to Dutchess County residents, especially by expanding long-term pediatric inpatient services. Most importantly in this political landscape, she has decades of experience working with people of various political backgrounds to come to a consensus, which will help solve the real challenges facing Dutchess County.
Alix Winsby is a firm believer in change coming from the ground up, she is running to preserve and rebuild our democracy, foster our environment, nurture our kids, and create a healthy future for ourselves and our neighbors.