POUGHKEEPSIE – Less than 24 hours after the common council delayed a vote to transfer the former YMCA to the county for a youth center, Poughkeepsie’s 8th Ward Councilman Matt McNamara, a Democrat, has tendered his resignation. McNamara is stepping down effective June 1.
The single father of a teenage girl, McNamara submitted his resignation citing personal reasons for his decision to leave the city’s lawmaking body.
“Working for the City of Poughkeepsie citizens has allowed me to meet some amazing, caring people during the last five years,” McNamara said in his letter. “I will miss the daily interaction when I am no longer on the council.”
McNamara was originally appointed to the council when his husband, the late Tracy Hermann, passed away while serving on the city council. After being appointed to fill the vacancy, McNamara successfully sought election to the new term.
Mayor Rob Rolison weighed in, saying, “Matt is a close friend and dedicated public servant. His commitment was about service to others. He made sacrifices in his own life to serve this city. Lori and I wish him the best always.”
Council Chair Sarah Salem and McNamara had engaged in some heated debates over policy in the past several months. The two Democrats were at odds over issues such as lawsuits and the hiring of outside attorneys to represent the council.
Salem responded to McNamara’s resignation, saying, “Councilmember McNamara demonstrated his care for and commitment to the City of Poughkeepsie in his service as the 8th Ward councilmember and while I’m surprised to receive his letter of resignation, I honor and respect his decision and am grateful for the time we shared working together in the community. I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
