TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Fifth Ward Councilman Matt Woolever, a Democrat, resigned from the Poughkeepsie town board earlier this month after he and his family purchased a home in another Dutchess County town. Woolever’s resignation created a vacancy on the board until the remaining lawmakers appointed Republican Stephan Krakower to the seat on October 21.
Krakower had served as the councilman from 2000 – 2014. He was appointed to his former seat by the Republican majority of the town board, which has drawn the ire of the Town of Poughkeepsie Democratic Committee. The committee’s chairwoman, Kelly Lappan, expressed displeasure in the appointment of a Republican to the seat to which the voters had elected Democrat Woolever in the last two elections.
Lappan issued a statement, saying in part, “The board, along party lines, voted to replace a Democratic councilman with Republican Stephan Krakower, despite the fact that Ward 5 voters had made clear their desire to have a Democrat represent them on the board with the victories they handed Matt Woolever in 2017 and 2019.”
Krakower told Mid-Hudson News that he does not see politics as a major source of influence at the local level the same way partisanship plays a role in other levels of government. “At the local level it’s about the people, not the party,” said Krakower who was born and raised in the town. “I’ve spent my whole life here and I enjoy helping my neighbors,” said the practicing lawyer. “Being able to focus on saving tax dollars while helping to provide needed services such as recreational programming and affordable housing
Lappan continued to rail against Krakower and the members of the board who voted to appoint him. “The Republican councilmen and supervisor on the board have made abundantly clear they don’t care one bit what voters want if it goes counter to their ambitions. This is a travesty and a violation of the civic rights of the voters of Ward 5 and one they should not forget when they vote on their representation in 2021.”
Krakower said he intends to run for a full-term in next November’s election. Town Supervisor Jay Baisley stood by his vote to bring Krakower back. “With Stephan returning to the board, he brings more than a decade of experience with town operations and that is a benefit for everyone in the Town of Poughkeepsie.”
