POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Comptroller Robin Lois, a Democrat, was re-elected on Tuesday night, while Republican Family Court Judge Denise Watson claimed victory in a close race.
The Democrats lost two seats in the county legislature when Minority Leader Rebecca Edwards and Brendan Lawler (Dist. 4) lost. The Republicans will have 17 seats on the board in January with the Democrats holding eight seats.
Lois defeated political newcomer Ola Nesheiwat Hawatmeh by 1,546 votes out of more than 59,000 cast in the race.
“I want to continue providing the transparency and accountability that I brought to the office over the last four years, and there is a lot more to do and I am looking forward to it,” she said.
The Democrat is the first woman in her party to be re-elected to a countywide seat since the late Lucille Pattison was re-elected as Dutchess County Executive. Pattison’s last successful re-election was in 1987.
Family Court Judge Denise Watson survived a contentious battle against Democrat Rachel Saunders. Attention was drawn to the race by a small group of protesters that routinely denounced Watson in front of the courthouse. Watson captured more than 31,000 votes, with Saunders collecting just under 28,000.
“I am very grateful to all of the voters and it will be my privilege to continue to serve my community,” said the incumbent Watson.
County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver was celebrating the addition of two Republicans to the legislature. Going into the race, the Republicans, led by Pulver, held a majority with 15 members while the Democrats had 10 seats. Democratic Minority Leader Rebecca Edwards, representing District 6 from the Town of Poughkeepsie lost to Tony D’Aquanni by 124 votes. The Democrats also lost a seat from Hyde Park held by Brendan Lawler. The Democrat was appointed to the legislature in January of this year when Hannah Black resigned from her seat to become the County Democratic Elections Commissioner. Another political newcomer, Ben Geller, a 25-year-old first responder, narrowly defeated Lawler by 68 votes. Pulver said, “This proves our point that we have done what our constituents in Dutchess County want,” adding that “We don’t think of things as being Democrat or Republican – we think of what’s best for Dutchess County.”
The countywide ballot proposition, #6, seeking approval to downsize the legislature to 21 members from the current 25, was handily defeated with more than 67% of the voters opposing the plan. For a full list of Dutchess County elections results, click here.
