POUGHKEEPSIE – Nine residents of the city have been interviewed by the common council to fill the position that became vacant after the former council chairperson Sarah Salem resigned following a DWI conviction.
Acting Council Chairperson Natasha Cherry sought resumes from applicants on or before October 7, 2022. Ten applications were received.
The law required that a new chairperson was to be appointed by October 20, 2022. The applicant would be filling the position of Councilmember-at-Large and serve as the council’s chairperson through December 31, 2023.
The council violated the city charter by not appointing a new chairperson by the October 20, 2022 deadline. To delay the matter further, the candidates were not interviewed in a timely fashion. Of the 10 applicants, nine were interviewed after Curtis Simpson withdrew his name from consideration.
At the Monday, November 7, 2022 meeting, the council did not have an appointment listed on the agenda and no member attempted to bring any candidate’s name up for a vote. The Democratic majority on the council has, for the most part, not announced the frontrunners because the interviews were held in executive session.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, two councilmembers present at the interviews have said that former council chairperson Chris Petsas is in the running, along with Da’Ron Wilson, the current Executive Director of School Engagement for the Poughkeepsie City School District. In addition, City of Poughkeepsie IDA member Vincent Pedi, who also serves on the executive committee for the Dutchess County Democratic Committee, is said to have former councilwoman Sarah Brannen lobbying the council on his behalf. Pedi and Brennan both serve on the Democratic Executive Committee.
Acting Chairperson Natasha Cherry has repeatedly failed to respond to requests from Mid-Hudson News regarding a potential appointment date.
