Dutrchess County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson at
Mallory’s side for his announcement
POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Councilman Robert Mallory Jr. launched
his campaign for mayor on over the weekend. He made the announcement
before a crowd of supporters at the River Station Restaurant.
“We have a wealth of opportunities here in Poughkeepsie and we need to take advantage of them and that’s why I am running for mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie”, said Mallory.
The former council chairman shared his vision for the city and his agenda
if he is elected mayor. He said he believes the key to utilizing the city’s
opportunities and mitigating its problems starts with community action.
“As your elected mayor, I will increase and enhance community engagement because getting the community involved is the only way that we solve and address our problems,” said Mallory. “Our problems, in itself, meaning our youth, employment, crime, all of those things in itself are related to community engagement.”
He says he will create a job readiness program for youths that will include rehabbing buildings in blighted neighborhoods while, at the same time, provide job experience to the participants. In addition, he said he would create a task force made up of surrounding communities and organizations to promote, as well as keep, businesses from leaving Poughkeepsie and he said he would work on obtaining a façade grant for Market and Main streets to help boost eco-development.
Currently, on the city council, Mallory is working on an issue he hopes will be brought to public participation in the next two months. “One of the things that I am part of, that I’m hoping that initiative will go through, is our bus routes, to make them more efficient. I sit on the City of Poughkeepsie Bus Service Committee and we’re looking to consolidate our bus routes to make them more efficient and that should help out with employment, those attending colleges and things of that sort.”
At this point, Mallory, a Democrat, has one opponent in an expected September primary, Poughkeepsie School Board member Randall Johnson.
While no Republicans have announced, Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Robert Rolison is considering a run for the city’s top spot.
