DUTCHESS COUNTY – Democrat Anthony Parisi, a bureau chief with the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, defeated Republican Chief Assistant District Attorney Matt Weishaupt to become the first Democrat to hold the position of DA in county history.
Parisi garnered 34,810 votes while Weishaupt received 32,539 votes.
“I’m so grateful to the voters of Dutchess County for putting their faith in me to be the next DA,” Parisi said after winning his first campaign for public office.
When Parisi first announced his campaign, District Attorney Bill Grady told Parisi that he needed to resign because he was running as a Democrat. When asked if Weishaupt was also being forced to resign, Grady said he would not seek Weishaupt’s resignation. The confrontation, captured on an audio recording, created some animosity in the office.
“I hope that Bill Grady and Matt Weishaupt will understand that the voters have made their decision and I will take the reins on January 1 whether they like it or not,” Parisi said while also pledging to work with law enforcement to make the communities safer while ensuring a justice system that is “fair and just for everyone in Dutchess County.”
Parisi’s predecessor, Bill Grady, has served as DA for 40 years and is currently the longest-serving DA in the state.
