Democratic Candidates on the Ballot in 2023

Jeanne Walsh is a lifelong resident of the Rosendale/High Falls area. She has been married for 42 years to her husband Jack Walsh, and they raised their two grown sons in Rosendale. Jeanne has run several small businesses based in Rosendale. She is currently serving her 12th year as Supervisor for the Town of Rosendale. Jeanne previously served on the Planning Board for 10 years. With a combination of nearly 22 years in service to our Town. Jeanne has been able to bring millions of dollars in grants to assist the Town in important projects in Rosendale. Replacing our pool, water plant and water lines, sewer plant, creating new parks and park improvements and a new Town Hall from a closed school. Jeanne is committed to continue to work for Rosendale and the residents of our community.

Tim Craven was born in Kingston and raised in the Hudson Valley, Tim has lived and worked here most of his life. He would be a sensible and practical voice on the board. Tim is a determined, can-do-anything type of person, who has been successful managing many varied businesses and truly knows how to bring people together to get things done. Tim has 25 years of managerial experience in businesses from auto repair to heavy equipment rental and currently works in real estate sales and residential property management. His work over the years has involved working with local towns on road and building projects, as well as writing bids and proposals for a variety of projects. After a decade of enjoying life in Rosendale, he would be thrilled to be able to give back to the community by serving on the Town Board.

Ashley Sweeney grew up in Cottekill with her parents and younger brother. She has been married 15 years and is the mother of two wonderful boys. She has resided in Rosendale for over twenty years, and it brings her great joy to be raising her children in this beautiful town. Ashley works full time as Recreation Director for a local municipality. She has several years of experience creating, organizing, and implementing events and programs for youth, adults, and senior citizens in our community. She likes to be involved as much as she can. She wants the people of Rosendale to know that she cares deeply about the community. She believes that if we work together, we can help our town be the best that it can be. As councilmember for Rosendale, she hopes to be a voice for the people. At the very least, she want to be someone who people feel they can talk to. She will listen. She will make decisions that I feel are fair and best for Rosendale as a whole. She believes local government is a very powerful tool in cultivating the world we want to live in. Together we can accomplish anything.

Robert Gallagher has been Rosendale Highway Superintendent since 2013. Prior to that, he served on the Rosendale Town Board from 2008-2013, and as Rosendale Town Supervisor from 2004-2007. The Town’s Highway Department is responsible for the safety of 70 lane-miles of town owned roads, including culvert pipe replacement, maintenance and replacement of storm drains, blacktopping, snow plowing and sanding. Other projects run the gamut from maintenance and replacement of guardrails, grass, brush and tree cutting on town right-of-ways to clearing and maintenance work on properties and buildings within flood control areas. The Highway Department also is responsible for the maintenance and up-keep of all town buildings and grounds.

Manna Jo Greene has represented Rosendale and part of Marbletown in the Ulster County Legislature since 2014. She chairs the Legislature’s Energy and Environment Committee and the Ulster County Climate Smart Committee, serves as Deputy Chair of Public Works and Capital Projects, is a member of the Trail and Rail Advisory Committee and previously served as Vice-Chair of the Ulster County Environmental Management Council. In addition, she coordinates the Mid-Hudson Regional Sustainability Coalition's Energy Working Group, which is developing a seven-county Regional Renewable Energy Implementation Plan. Prior to joining the Legislature, Manna served on the Rosendale Town Council for eight years and previously chaired the Rosendale Environmental Commission. Manna was Hudson River Sloop Clearwater’s Environmental Action Director from 2000-2023, served as Recycling Coordinator/Educator for the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency for more than 10 years, and as a registered Critical Care Nurse for 22 years. Manna is committed to the beliefs that humans can live in harmony with each other and the Earth, and that if your cause is just and you are persistent, you will eventually triumph. Manna lives in Cottekill with her son Ivan, daughter-in-law Hartje, and grandson Emmett.

Jen Metzger was elected Ulster County Executive in 2022. Jen has been involved in public service and advocacy for over 30 years, at the local, regional, state, federal, and international levels. She previously served in the New York State Senate, on the Rosendale Town Council, and as Rosendale Deputy Supervisor. Jen has also served on many commissions and working groups, and co-founded the energy consumer advocacy group Communities for Local Power. Jen's priorities for Ulster County include making housing more affordable, addressing climate change on a local level, increasing opportunities for local youth, developing our local workforce, expanding mental health support, and advocating for the residents of Ulster County in all ways. Jen has lived in Rosendale with her husband, John, for over 20 years, and they raised their three sons here. Read more about Jen's biography and priorities at jenmetzger.com.

Manny Nneji has dedicated his life to keeping people and communities safe, prosecuting hundreds of cases—from fraud, burglary and animal cruelty to the most violent crimes of rape and murder. With 32 years of experience as a prosecutor, no one matches Manny's deep knowledge of the law, his intense commitment to fairness, and his profound understanding of our community. Born in Nigeria, Manny immigrated to America and worked his way through SUNY New Paltz and University of Buffalo Law School. Driven by a deep commitment to fairness and justice, he has served as a prosecutor for 32 years under both Democratic and Republican leadership, as an Assistant District Attorney in Ulster County and an Assistant New York State Attorney General. In 2021, Manny was appointed Ulster County's Chief Assistant DA. As Ulster County District Attorney, Manny will work to provide justice for ALL—for the victim, for the accused, and for the community. Manny is ready to hit the ground running as the county’s top law enforcement officer, keeping our community safe and delivering justice with compassion. Learn more about Manny at mannyforda.com.

There are also two proposed Ulster County Charter amendments on the back of the ballot. We will link to more information about the amendments when it is available.

Find more information at Ulster Votes and the Ulster County Board of Elections.