HUDSON – Assemblywoman Didi Barrett is running in November for third two-year term in Albany although she has served for five years. She made the official announcement last week.
Democrat Barrett served her first year filling the vacant left when then-Assemblyman Marcus Molinaro, a Republican, became Dutchess County executive.
Barrett, a member of the large Democratic majority in the Assembly, said while some people may feel change for the better in Albany has not occurred fast enough, there has been improvement in the last few years.
“Two leaders, the Senate leader and the Assembly leader, who were abusing the system, are no longer there,” the assemblywoman said. “We just passed the first round of pension forfeiture legislation. That has to go to the public for a referendum, but it is a step in the right direction.”
Barrett said the state-imposed tax cap is not popular with municipal leaders, but is popular with the public because it holds down increased taxation. Some local leaders say that is shifting the burden of cutting on the local level. The assemblywoman acknowledges that does present a challenge.
Barrett faces Republican Copake Councilwoman Dr. Terry Sullivan in the November general election.
