A jubilant Molinaro reacts to the endorsement as Rccaldo looks on
WAPPINGERS FALLS – The regional CSEA, with 1,300 County of Dutchess
employee members as well as another 500 working in county municipalities,
Tuesday endorsed County Executive Marcus Molinaro for re-election.
The union, which also represents state and school district workers in
the county as well as employees in the private sector, announced its backing
of the Republican executive at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls.
“Marc has improved worker morale and earned our members’ respect
by keeping his promise of an open door policy and taking the time to actually
learn about the different services our members perform,” said regional
union President Billy Riccaldo. “When challenges arose, Marc approached
CSEA and worked collaboratively with us to find solutions instead of creating
a division between labor and management. It is that kind of leadership
that has earned him our endorsement and support for another term.”
Dutchess County Government employees Local President Lizabeth Piraino
said Molinaro “has taken a genuine interest in the work our members
do, which goes a long way in improving worker morale.”
“I promised four years ago that if we worked together and were committed,
we could solve the problems we faced and that no challenge was beyond
our reach,” Molinaro said.
Molinaro, who faces a challenge in the fall from Democrat former County
Comptroller Diane Jablonski, began his political career in 1994 when he
was 18 and was elected to the Tivoli Village Board. The following year
he began mayor, the youngest in the country.
Molinaro’s endorsement is an about face for the union, which in
the past refused to endorse former County Executive William Steinhaus,
also a Republican.
