POUGHKEEPSIE – City Council Chairperson Sarah Salem is seeking re-election to her at-large seat on the Poughkeepsie Common Council in the November election. Salem told Mid-Hudson News that the bid has received the endorsement of the city’s Democratic committee and the Working Families Party.
Salem is facing a primary from Democratic First Ward Councilman Chris Petsas, who announced his bid to become the next council chair last month. Petsas, under the old system, had previously served as president of the council.
Salem said the run is “to coordinate and coalesce our local legislature, putting us on a path of continued progress to encourage investment in our community and in our people making the City of Poughkeepsie a more desirable place to live, work, and play for current and future residents.”
Salem has drawn criticism from organizations such as the city’s police officers. In August 2020, the PBA cast a vote of “no confidence” for Salem, citing the chair’s anti-police views.
Salem’s tenure as leader of the council has also been tainted by an arrest for DWI in February of 2020 by city cops. Due to the COVID pandemic, the case is still pending because Salem has requested a trial on the charge, the second alcohol-related arrest.
The February incident involved a motor vehicle accident that critics say Salem has not addressed. The lack of addressing the accident that injured the other driver led to several protests calling for Salem’s resignation.
In September, Salem used the chair’s leadership prerogative to remove the “Mayor’s Comments” from the council’s meeting agendas. Historically, the council has afforded the city mayor to spend a few minutes during council meetings to provide updates on administrative proceedings in the city.
After prohibiting the mayor from speaking during council meetings, relations between the two branches of government became contentious including the council filing a lawsuit against Mayor Rob Rolison and the mayor filing a counter-suit against the council.
The lawsuits are part of the reason that Petsas is challenging Salem for the top spot. In addition to the lawsuits between the council and the mayor, the council is being sued by at least two different developers.
“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,” said Petsas. “There is no question that we need a change in leadership, and we need it sooner, rather than later.”
