KINGSTON – Now that Pat Ryan will be giving up his job as Ulster County executive to assume his new role as congressman in the 19th District, candidates for the local post are surfacing.
County Comptroller March Gallagher, who had expressed interest in the county’s top job, formally announced on Wednesday that she is definitely running for the post.
Former State Senator Jennifer Metzger and Deputy County Executive Mark Rider have also expressed interest in running.
All three are Democrats. A special Democratic convention will be held to select that party’s designation.
Gallagher was sworn in as county comptroller in in January 2020. Prior to that she was president of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, head of economic development and deputy director planning in the Ulster County executive’s office and chairwoman of the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency.
Rider said his administration would focus on three priorities next year – “Affordability, expanding mental health and addiction services, and fighting for the survival of our planet.”
No Republicans have surfaced at this point expressing interest in the county executive’s post.
