KINGSTON, N.Y. — An incumbent legislator and political newcomer are vying for election to the Ulster County Legislature’s District 8 seat, which comprises a portion of the town of Esopus including the hamlet of Port Ewen.
Democrat Laura Petit is running for a fifth non-consecutive two-year term on the body. She is being challenged by political newcomer Jarad Keplinger, who will hold the Republican and Conservative lines.
Election Day is Nov. 2. Early voting is available Oct. 23-31.
Petit said addressing the county’s mental health and housing needs will be among the Legislature’s top issues in the upcoming legislative term.
She said that among her greatest concern for 2022 is what she said is the “alarming increase” in residents over the age of 62 reaching out with concerns about the lack of housing. She said she will work in the Legislature to create a Housing Authority or a land bank that can help the county increase the rental inventory within the county. She also said the county needs to do more to help small landlords grapple with lost rental income so they aren’t forced to sell their property, which could lead to a loss of rental housing.
Petit said she supports legislation now before lawmakers that would establish a mental health and substance abuse stabilization center.
She also said the county needs to do more to build infrastructure throughout the county and said that with the influx of new residents and increases in sales tax revenue the county can make those investments without raising the property tax.
Petit is a retired environmental education who served on the Legislature from 2008 to 2012. She was re-elected to the Legislature in 2017. She is a 2006 graduate of Onteora High School and holds an associate’s degree from SUNY Ulster and a paralegal certificate from Marist College.
She will appear on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines.
On his Facebook page, Keplinger said he believes the county has many opportunities to become the best place to live.
“I believe that if you are looking to have something changed, you should put yourself out there and make the change yourself,” he stated.
A businessman and the owner of Keplinger Management and Network Phone Solutions, Keplinger said he would use his business knowledge to receive input and make decisions to help Ulster County reach its potential.
Keplinger is 2006 graduate of Onteora High School and holds an associate’s degree from SUNY Ulster.
According to his Facebook page, he and his wife Renee Keplinger are volunteers with the YMCA and are currently overseeing a $375,000 renovation to upgrade the facilities.
