POUGHKEEPSIE – A tight race for the 5th ward in the City of Poughkeepsie has been decided after counting absentee ballots and Yvonne Flowers has been declared the winner.
The incumbent Flowers had bested Democrat Ann Perry for the seat in 2017 and this year’s race was a rematch. On election night, unofficial totals had Flowers in the lead by six votes; 204-198.
Flowers ran on the Republican, Conservative, Working Families, and Independence ballots while Perry had the Democratic line. Absentee ballots were counted at the Dutchess County Board of Elections on Thursday morning and Democratic Commissioner Beth Soto said that Flowers has been declared the winner by a tally of 216-208. Flowers called the victory “a relief” and followed by saying “I look forward to continuing to work on the projects that I have started for the betterment of Poughkeepsie. I look forward to working with Mayor Rolison and the Common Council to continue moving Poughkeepsie in the right direction.”
Mayor Rob Rolison has a strong working relationship with Miss Flowers and was happy about the win on Thursday. “Yvonne is a great example of what an elected official should be,” he declared. “Yvonne not only works for her ward but for the entire city. Her heart and soul is in this job, and she is a voice of reason on the common council.”
Michael McCormack, chairman of the Dutchess County Republican Committee called it “A great day for the City of Poughkeepsie. Yvonne is a shining star and works tirelessly for her constituents.” Kara Bucher, Chairwoman of the city’s GOP Committee echoed the sentiments offered by McCormack, saying “We are thrilled that Yvonne has been reelected to the 5th ward. No councilmember works harder for their ward and the City of Poughkeepsie than Yvonne Flowers.”
