POUGHKEEPSIE – First Ward Councilman Chris Petsas, a Democrat, has declared his candidacy for the position of councilmember-at-large in the November election. The at-large member is the leader of the city’s common council, currently held by Sarah Salem.
Petsas, in his eighth year on the council, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to the First Ward position.
The lifelong resident of Poughkeepsie said that his candidacy is the result of what he called dysfunction and division on the council under Salem’s leadership.
Petsas intimated that the relationship between the council and mayor has deteriorated so far that it is hurting the city. “If we continue down this road of division, the city will fall backward” to the time when more than 500 homes were vacant, drugs were rampant, and crime was rising.
Petsas previously served as the chairman of the council and said that, in the last eight years, he has worked diligently to revive the city. He pointed to the reduction in crime, new businesses coming to the city, and the number of abandoned residences has diminished substantially, currently at 50 homes.
Petsas expressed his displeasure with the number of lawsuits involving the council. Currently, two different developers are suing the council, the council is suing the mayor, and Mayor Rob Rolison was forced to bring suit against the council. “Not too long ago, we had meetings and dialogue with the executive branch and other layers of government, for the benefit of the city. Now it’s press releases and lawsuits.”
Petsas claims that he will restore civility to the council. “There is no question that we need a change in leadership, and we need it sooner, rather than later.”
Salem did not return a message asking if she planned to seek re-election to her position.
