Jubilant Molinaro, left, with Rccaldo
WAPPINGERS FALLS – The regional CSEA, with 1,300 Dutchess County employee members as well as another 500 working in county municipalities, endorsed County Executive Marcus Molinaro for a second term on Tuesday.
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.”
Molinaro “has taken a genuine interest in the work our members do, which goes a long way in improving worker morale,” said Dutchess County Government employees Local President Lizabeth Piraino. “He minimized layoffs when they were in that $40 million deficit. He has worked with us on issues and we work day to day on the problems that come up.”
Molinaro said it is important for employers to work well with their employees.
“This isn’t about agreeing on issues and it isn’t about ignoring the concerns of taxpayers to benefit a group of individuals,” the incumbent said. “This is about building a relationship and sacrificing together and respecting one another to provide the highest level of service at the lowest cost to Dutchess County’s taxpayers and these employees strive to do that every day.”
Republican 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 became mayor, the youngest in the country. He also served two terms in the state Assembly.
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.
