POUGHKEEPSIE – The death of the iconic Dutchess County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson has created a vacant seat on the lawmaking body and former lawmaker Mario Johnson wants to be considered for the post. Johnson has previously served on both the Poughkeepsie Common Council and the county legislature.
When a vacancy occurs on the legislature, the governing body of the local government where the district is located, selects a candidate to fill the vacancy until a new election can be held. When asked if any potential candidates had expressed an interest, Common Council Chairperson Sarah Salem said “I will be making a public notice of the vacancy on Friday, May 29, so that individuals interested in assuming the seat have an opportunity to send a letter of interest expressing such desire and so that we, as a body, can make an informed decision.”
The law requires that the county formally put the city on notice that a vacancy needs to be filled and the local government then has twenty days to select an appointment and vote on the selection.
The Chairwoman of the city Democratic committee, Nina Boyd, said that the Democrats met on Tuesday night and discussed the appointment at length. Boyd declined to say if anyone had expressed an interest in the position. Sources tell Mid-Hudson News that Johnson’s name was considered along with Joash Ward, the unsuccessful candidate for mayor in the last election cycle. Democrats are said to be waiting for input from Pastor Jesse Bottoms of Beulah Baptist Church where both the late Barbara Jeter-Jackson attended, and Mario Johnson is a parishioner. Pastor Bottoms has not returned a call seeking comment.
Johnson said that he is interested in returning to the legislature and bringing his experience with him. “Now is not the time for someone to learn on the job, in the midst of a pandemic,” said the community activist. Johnson has served on the board for many non-profits in the city as well as working for the Poughkeepsie City School District. “To serve the people of the northside and the city as a whole, would be an honor and a privilege.”
Joash Ward responded by saying “No comment” when asked if he was interested in seeking the appointment.
Mario Johnson is currently working on several high-profile projects in and around Poughkeepsie. He is currently part of Dutchess County’s Complete Count Committee for the 2020 census. In his role, Johnson has been building a collaboration between the committee, Nubian Directions, and the school district to stress the importance of having residents fill out the census forms.
One of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic was the closing of schools, leaving students to study at home – where many do not have internet access. Johnson volunteered to be the program manager for the Poughkeepsie Community WiFi project to bring free WiFi and internet access to the city’s Northside. “Having access to the internet is vital for the community,” he said. “It will allow students to continue learning, give families a chance to complete census forms, and have access to important information about the Coronavirus that is largely impacting the black and Latino community.”
The program has already brought WiFi service to the Winnikee Avenue and Mansion Square parks with plans to get internet access throughout the city.
