The chairman of the Dutchess County legislature is running for City of Poughkeepsie mayor.
Republican Rob Rolison, who had been considering a mayoral run for some time, told WAMC Friday he has decided to throw his hat in the ring.
“I made the decision that I am going to give up my legislative seat at the end of the year, because I won’t be able to run for both, and they’re both up in November, and I’m running for mayor.”
He says will make a formal announcement February 11. Rolison, who was a cop for 29 years, becomes the second Republican to announce a run. Jere Tierney, a retired detective from the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, is registered with the state Board of Elections as a mayoral candidate. Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik, a Republican, cannot run again because of term limits. Two Democrats have announced a run - Common Council member Robert Mallory and Poughkeepsie City School District Board Member Randy Johnson.
