Tom Zurhellen is a noted veteran and professor of creative writing at Marist College who resides in the City of Poughkeepsie. He has worked tirelessly to prevent suicide and homelessness among veterans, walking across the United States in 2019 to raise awareness and funds for these efforts. As County Executive, he aspires to help small businesses still reeling in the aftermath of covid and to reduce food insecurity and improve housing affordability. He will address crime and drug overdoses by focusing on their causes, including adding more resources for treatment and mental health services. Tom serves on the board of Hudson River Housing and of the Dutchess County SPCA. He is enthusiastically backed by fellow combat veteran Congressman Pat Ryan.

A thirty-year employee of a nonprofit that serves people with disabilities, Kenya Gadsden is an experienced manager skilled in delivering services to clients. She is running for County Clerk to make that office more responsive to the people of Dutchess County. If elected, she will establish mobile DMV sites around the county and will work to ensure that Dutchess residents better understand the full range of services the County provides. She will also make the Naturalization ceremony for new citizens a more welcoming one, featuring representatives from other departments. Kenya is a resident of Fishkill and a former member of the Fishkill Town Board and Beacon School Board.

James Rogers has served as NYS Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice (the first in that role) and as a Deputy Commissioner for Worker Protection in the State Department of Labor. As a Senior Trial Attorney in the Legal Aid Criminal Defense Division, he argued many cases in Family Courts and successfully lobbied the NYS Legislature to cap the caseload of attorneys (called Law Guardians) who represent children in Family Court, so they could more effectively serve their vulnerable clients. He lives in Red Hook with his wife and two daughters.

A Dutchess County native from Millbrook, Anthony Parisi began his career as a Public Defender for the indigent. Four years later, he joined the Dutchess County District Attorney’s office. Over the course of 25 years, he has been twice promoted and now serves as Chief of the Major Crimes Bureau. Anthony has created partnerships with police and the community to counter gun violence and prevent crimes from happening. As District Attorney, he will enhance support for crime victims and will appoint a conviction integrity unit to investigate facts-based claims of wrongful convictions or sentencing inequities. A priority is to create greater transparency for the public by finally codifying the department’s policies. He and his wife are raising their two daughters in the Town of Beekman.