A Beacon Guide To Local Election Voting | Fall 2025
Early Voting Begins Saturday, October 25th
Beacon Main Street just before the general election in 2024.
With Halloween, Beacon Bonfire, Thanksgiving, and the Holiday season fast approaching, you could be forgiven (almost, but not quite) for forgetting that local elections are also upon us. What follows is a quick, easy guide to everything you need to know about where to vote, when to vote, and—because we’re dedicated to Beacon—which Beacon locals are running for office.
Early Voting Begins This Weekend
Two weeks of early voting begin this weekend in Dutchess County, starting Saturday October 25th and continuing until Sunday, November 2nd. So, there’s no need to wait until voting day (Tuesday, November 4th).
The closest early voting polling station for Beacon locals is Fishkill Town Hall (807 Route 52, Fishkill). You can also vote early in Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Millbrook, or Hyde Park if it’s more convenient for you. A full list of Dutchess County voting sites and opening times can be found here.
Where To Vote in Beacon, NY
Veterans Memorial Building (413 Main Street), one of the three spots to vote on Election Day.
Access to voting in person is easier than ever since Beacon voters can go to any of the three polling stations in the city to vote on Tuesday November 4th.
The polls will be open from 6 AM to 9 PM.
Beacon Locations To Vote
Veterans Memorial Building (413 Main Street)
Rombout Middle School (88 Matteawan Road)
South Avenue Elementary School (60 South Avenue)
Make No Mistake, Your Vote Counts
It’s easy to believe your vote doesn't matter, especially at a local level. But history has repeatedly shown many elections have been decided by a small number of votes. That means every vote carries even more weight when there’s low voter turnout in local elections. Not voting essentially gives more power to others to make decisions for you rather than actively shaping the future you want to see. And your vote still matters even if a candidate is uncontested.
Lisa Jessup, Chair of the Beacon Democrats, recently explained, “Not every candidate on the ballot in the upcoming elections is uncontested. There are county candidates running competitive races for positions that will impact the everyday lives of all Beacon residents. Take the Beacon Free Loop Bus, for example. Just last year, the funding for the service was in serious jeopardy because the Dutchess County legislature planned to eliminate it. It goes without saying that this would have negatively impacted Beacon locals. And it was only due to a concerted effort at a city and local level that the service was saved. This is a great example of why we need to have advocates at a county level who are committed to protecting quality of life issues for everyone.
“Plus, when you vote for an uncontested candidate, you are giving them a mandate to live up to their campaign promises. It’s the equivalent of a stamp of approval.”
Early voting starts this Saturday, October 25th.
Dan Aymar-Blair (Dem), Dutchess County Comptroller and Beacon local who is running again in this election, told the audience at a recent fundraiser, “We’re working hard to get the word out and to encourage people to vote. There’s a perception that it doesn’t matter because it’s a local election. But it does matter. There’s 152,000 people eligible to vote in Dutchess County, yet it’s predicted that only 70,000 to 75,000 people will come out to exercise their right to vote this year. The one thing I would say to every single voter is that your vote counts. Please come out and make it matter this time and every time.”
Beacon Locals On The Dutchess County Ballot
Dan won a special election last November by a hair, securing the Dutchess County Comptroller seat with just 925 votes. As with all special elections, the candidate needs to run again for re-election for a full-term, which means Dan’s essentially been campaigning since February 2024. Despite this, he hasn’t been distracted from hosting 11 Town Halls since coming to office, and he’s released more comptroller reports and brought more transparency to the role than any other Dutchess County Comptroller.
In addition to Dan, Beacon locals running for county positions include Yvette Valdés Smith (Dem), who is a NY State certified public school teacher and currently County Legislator of District 16 for the Town of Fishkill and the City of Beacon Ward Four. She’s also been the Minority Leader for two terms. Yvette is up for re-election in this role.
When we asked Yvette what she counts as her achievements as an elected official, she shared, “I fought to keep the Beacon Free Loop at the county level and to expand its service. I’m also a member of the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund, which is building the affordable housing units at 2 Cross Street in Beacon. We need to continue to invest in housing solutions so that we can all afford to live here.
“I’ve also been an advocate for the rail trail connecting Beacon and Fishkill. I was a sponsor for a sales tax decrease as well as property tax decrease. And most recently delivered REV250 funding to Beacon and Fishkill so that we can offer historical education programming. I will continue to prioritize affordability and the health and safety of everyone in our community.”
Molly Rhodes (Dem), who is currently City Councilmember for the City of Beacon Ward One, is running to become a County Legislator of District 18, which also includes Beacon and a portion of Fishkill. Her top-of-mind priorities for Beacon and Dutchess County residents include the creation of affordable housing through the Department of Planning and the Housing Trust Fund, and mental health, family, and emergency housing services through the Department of Community and Family Services and the Department of Health.
Molly says, “After three years on City Council, I have a strong sense of what’s needed to get the best version of legislation possible. That means connecting with people from a variety of backgrounds and priorities and meeting them where they are. I’m always looking for points of connection to create laws and support the expansion of services that meet the needs of my community.”
Get To Know The Candidates On The Beacon Ballot
Lastar Gorton (Dem) | Running for Beacon City Council, Ward One
What made you decide to run for office?
“I wanted to be a voice for those who were feeling unheard. My moment of decision came because there were a lot of issues happening in my apartment complex and I felt that the management company was doing nothing about it. Friends and neighbors encouraged me to join City Council to see if there was anything that could be done to help with the issues there, even though it is privately owned.”
What will be your priorities if you’re elected?
“One of my top priorities is affordable housing—not just for renters—but for homeowners and those who aspire to become homeowners. My priorities also include youth engagement and development and uniting our community.”
What is something you’ve done or achieved in Beacon or elsewhere that positively contributed to your community?
“I cofounded Growing and Empowering Myself and My Sisters Inc. (G.E.M.M.S), a nonprofit that mentors and empowers young women ages 12 to 18. I also created Beacon’s Annual Juneteenth Festival held at the Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.”
What can you bring to the role?
“I bring a fresh voice and new ideas. I want to be a voice for those who have ideas but believe no one cares or is paying attention.”
Zack Smith (Dem)| Running for Beacon City Council, Ward Two
What made you decide to run for office?
“As a recent first-time homeowner, I experienced the affordability challenges in Beacon first-hand. I also see quality of life issues around safe streets, availability of public spaces, and balancing development needs with the needs of existing residents.”
What will be your priorities if you’re elected?
“My priorities include advocating for safer streets, particularly along corridors where children walk to school, such as South Avenue. I want to help address the police shortages the City is experiencing, to increase police capacity for addressing quality of life issues, and to also improve response times. It’s also important for us to find ways to connect Main Street businesses to the local community, to better serve local needs.”
What is something you’ve done or achieved in Beacon or elsewhere that positively contributed to your community?
“I’ve served on the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail data committee to evaluate the feasibility of the Fjord Trail for Beacon. I also volunteer at the Beacon’s Backyard Kitchen to serve meals to Beacon residents in need.”
What can you bring to the role?
“I’m a professional data scientist who is well read on the latest literature around affordability, development, and safe street design. As a data scientist, I believe the role of data is to help us discover which real-world solutions will best serve people, and to help us find feasible ways—big and small—to address public concerns.”
Sergei Krasikov (Dem)| Running for Beacon City Council, Ward Three
What made you decide to run for office?
“It stems from three key motivations. First, it’s a natural progression after years of community service. For some time now, I’ve chaired the Conservation Advisory Committee and Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance and actively engaging with many local issues affecting both our city and Ward Three specifically.
“Second, I’m eager to help shape our city’s future by contributing to the upcoming Comprehensive Plan update, which will guide Beacon’s development over the next decade. Finally, having grown up under a dictatorship in Belarus, I feel a deep personal commitment to participate in democratic self-governance—something I view as both a privilege and responsibility.”
What will be your priorities if you’re elected?
“My priorities include housing affordability and sustainable development, including local employment, better transportation and non-vehicular accessibility, environmental leadership, community and inclusion, and governance transparency and communication.”
What is something you’ve done or achieved in Beacon or elsewhere that positively contributed to your community?
“As Chair of the Conservation Advisory Committee, I helped to develop and implement our municipal compost drop off program. I co-founded the Fishkill Creek Watershed Alliance and brought in a coalition of partners including Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, DEC Estuary Program, Riverkeeper, Hudson Highland Land Trust, Bard College Community Science Lab, and others to study the conditions & water quality of Fishkill Creek and the wider watershed.”
What can you bring to the role?
“I have passion, discipline, project management experience, I am adept at coalition building, I have a high degree of zoning nerdiness, and an ability & willingness to listen. My professional training includes certification in Land Use Leadership, Green Infrastructure Techniques, and Permaculture Landscape Design, which enhances my ability to address complex community challenges.”
Carolyn Bennett Glauda (Dem)| Running for City of Beacon, Ward Four
What made you decide to run for office?
“I like being involved in the community and contribute to how it is run. I’m a big listener and I love hearing people’s ideas about how to make improvements. I volunteered to be part of the Traffic Safety Committee in 2020 because, as a pedestrian, driver, cyclist, and public transportation rider, I’ve seen how safe streets benefit everyone. Every month, I eagerly anticipate getting together with the community to solve some of our problems, and I look forward to doing more of that kind of work on City Council.”
What will be your priorities if you’re elected?
“Traffic safety, public transportation, housing access, and recreation.”
What is something you’ve done or achieved in Beacon or elsewhere that positively contributed to your community?
“In 2024, when Dutchess County Transit proposed changing the Loop Bus (Route G) service, I went to Poughkeepsie to ask them to improve, not cut, the route. From there, we created a petition and collected over 1,000 signatures from people who rely on the service to get to the train, the mountain, and to Main Street. I’m glad to say the county did not make the proposed cuts, and I will always encourage people to ride the Loop!”
What can you bring to the role?
“As a professional librarian, my job is to find answers to questions. If I don’t know something, my curiosity kicks in and I do research and ask questions to resolve the issue. I have served on dozens of committees and boards professionally and personally, so I know how to listen, reach consensus, and run an effective meeting.”
Amber Grant (Dem)| Running for Re-Election, Beacon City Councilmember At-Large
What made you decide to run for office?
“I’m really energized to continue in office at City Council. We have huge opportunities ahead with the Fishkill Avenue rezoning program and the Fjord Trail/Rail Trail projects. We have significant work to do on housing affordability and availability, services for the community, and to ensure we proactively plan for upcoming capital projects.”
What will be your priorities if you’re elected?
“Zoning, housing availability and affordability, and environmental sustainability.”
What is something you’ve done or achieved in Beacon or elsewhere that positively contributed to your community?
“I’ve worked closely on zoning issues, including around central Main St where there are many considerations for the historic properties. For example, addressing building heights and corner lots. I’ve served as the City Council liaison on the Natural Resources Inventory and the Conservation Advisory Committee on issues affecting preservation and development. I championed the appointment of a Climate Smart Communities Coordinator and worked closely with volunteers to launch our successful municipal composting program.
“Since being back on City Council, I’ve served on the Visitation Data Committee for the Fjord Trail, and I contributed to City Council’s work to adopt the Good Cause Eviction law.”
What can you bring to the role? What experience do you have?
“In addition to my experience on City Council, my professional experience spans more than 20 years in the financial services industry, and it includes a decades’ worth of experience in program management and digital strategy. I’m adept at balancing multiple high priorities and managing deliverables.”
Paloma Wake (Dem)| Running for Re-Election, Beacon City Councilmember At-Large
What made you decide to run for office?
“I have been working to further community connections and social justice since moving to Beacon in 2017. This has taken the form of volunteer work with local organizations like Beacon4Black Lives, Mutual Aid, Fareground, and Community Voices Heard. It has also included more formal roles like Chair of the City of Beacon Human Rights Commission and manager of the Beacon Farmers Market, which administers important free or discounted fresh food programs like SNAP, Fresh Connect, and Greens4Greens.”
What will be your priorities if you’re elected?
“My high-level priorities of affordable housing, climate justice, community safety, and participatory governance have remained consistent.”
What is something you’ve done or achieved in Beacon or elsewhere that positively contributed to your community?
“One legislative achievement I’m particularly proud of is the passage of Good Cause Eviction in the City of Beacon. This common-sense legislation protects tenants from arbitrarily losing their housing and clarifies responsibilities for both landlords and tenants in their lease agreements. This is legislation that I advocated for mid-pandemic when I was seeking housing myself before I was on Council and was proud to vote for and pass after I was elected. I know this law has helped residents with deep community connections including schoolteachers, long-time residents, and City employees stay in their homes and keep the fabric of the Beacon community strong.”
So, there you have it, everything you need to know about voting in these upcoming local elections. Be sure to share this feature with friends or family who say they don’t know anything about the Beacon candidates, or where and when to vote.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡
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