POUGHKEEPSIE – Democrat Kenneth Levinson made his Poughkeepsie mayoral bid official on Thursday with a rally at the train station.
Levinson (podium): “Poughkeepsie is in a financial mess …”
Levinson, who has lived in the city for nearly 30 years, said Poughkeepsie has taken a turn for the worst with residents’ safety a concern. He also criticized City Hall over its financial decisions.
“Poughkeepsie is in a financial mess teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.” He pointed to a state comptroller’s office audit in 2013, saying the city faces “fiscal stress, which if not addressed will affect the city’s ability to provide services and places an undue burden on taxpayers.”
Levinson said he wants to “lead Poughkeepsie to a successful reinvention.”
He faces two other Democrats in the race for Poughkeepsie’s top job – Alderman Robert Mallory and School Board Member Randall Johnson.
Two Republicans are running – Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Robert Rolison and Jere Tierney.
