Dear Hudsonians, fans, skeptics, and our oddly growing list of readers in Botswana -
It’s here. The most consequential election in the county and the City of Hudson since the last “most consequential” one. In the County, we hold our breath to see if Claverack, Ghent, and Austerlitz change hands. In Hudson, between the bully, the jester, and the nerd, this year’s race is less about ideology than about competence, priorities, and what kind of city Hudson wants to be: self-sufficient or perpetually subsidized.
Our editorial board spent the better part of the year FOILing City Hall schedules, interviewing most major candidates (who were brave enough), and debating among ourselves over whether “fiscally conservative and socially liberal” is still a thing. We concluded: yes, if you mean it.
So here’s our election issue: research, reasoning, and recommendations. Read, argue, share, and find us on Instagram or hit "reply" to this email if you prefer.
Three men walk into a mayoral race. One wants attention, one wants applause, one wants to fix the budget.
Joe Ferris, the technocrat with a plan. Kamal Johnson, the showman with a story. Lloyd Koedding, the jester without a court.
Our choice is simple: the one who treats the city like an institution, not a stage.
✅ Vote Joe Ferris.
If the First Ward is Hudson’s conscience, its supervisor race shows what the town values most: independence over dependence, pragmatism over posturing. Read online the letter to the Editors that Randall Martin wrote in response.
✅ Vote Alex Madero.
Our growth depends on getting the basics right: zoning, infrastructure, and a council that can read a spreadsheet.
✅ Vote for Donna Streitz, Henry Haddad, and Patricia Ramoska. These candidates understand that “affordable housing” starts with responsible spending, not press releases.