Given my previous government experience, I was able to be effective during my first term as County Supervisor. I immediately hit the ground running, fighting for my constituents of the 4th Ward in the City of Hudson, as well as those who live throughout Columbia County.
Accomplishments:
- Fought along side Mayor Scalera, Fellow County Supervisors and others to keep the Hudson Correctional Facility open.
- Rewrote Columbia County's Ethics Policy, adding the Employee Bill of Rights
- Wrote recommendations for a County Labor Management Committee, a committee that has since been instituted.
- Fought for Hudson to get a larger share of County sales tax distribution. Was able to get an additional $75,000, which brought Hudson's portion of sales tax monies to $1.4 million. These additional funds were used to keep Hudson's taxes level for the tax year of 2009.
- Fought to keep the County from putting a homeless shelter in the middle of the City of Hudson's business district. Now sitting on the homeless shelter oversight committee, to make sure the program is properly installed in the properties offer to Columbia County, by the City of Hudson.
- Wrote several Congressional appropriation proposals. One of which is a proposal for a parking garage on 4th and Columbia St. Adding a parking garage to this area would help promote several new businesses in Hudson, namely Club Helsinki and the newly renovated Opera House.
- Took advantage of the County's new Youth Summer Employment Program. Personally helped 7 youth from through out the City of Hudson get hired.
- Took the lead on the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, fighting against the moving of DSS (Dept. of Social Services) out of the City of Hudson. This is a fight with the help of many others, we were able to win. I'm happy to say, "DSS is staying in the City of Hudson".
- After my first year on the Board of Supervisors, I was named Deputy Minority Leader by my fellow Democratic Supervisors. I earned the respect of my fellow Supervisors by having a good understanding of the issues before us. Also by working hard to facilitate a manageable resolution to the problem.
I am proud that during my first term as County Supervisor, I have been part of changing the business as usual attitude in our County government.. I take my job as County Supervisor very serious, making sure I ask the tough questions when they need to be asked. Taking the time to fight for constituents on a personal basis. My model is "No problem is to small to investigate, no person is to insignificant to help".
Goals:
County Level
County Level
- Work with my fellow County Supervisors, State and Federal Legislators to help streamline the DSS (Dept of Social Services) process, saving the County money and making the process easier for clients.
- Working to make Columbia County more inviting to businesses that would provide crucially needed jobs.
- Help Supervisor Doug McGivney, Chairman of the Legal Committee get a County alternative to incarceration program started.
- Continue to look for ways to streamline County government, saving County taxpayer's money.
- Make sure that clients who use County services get treated with kind, courteous services.
- Work with Mayor Scalera to continue developing the waterfront.
- Help create more affordable housing in the City of Hudson.
- Work with Mayor Scalera, City Treasurer and City Alderman to lower taxes.
- Help develop a plan to refurbish and get old homes back on the tax rolls.
- Work on a 3 - 5 year plan to redevelop the lower half of the City of Hudson.
I'm currently working on the Bliss Tower project with Mayor Scalera, Congressman Murphy's office and other elected officials that would redevelop portions of the lower half of Hudson. This project would be the largest project to happen in the City of Hudson, since urban renewal in the early 70'. If this project was to come to fruition, the City of Hudson would become much more marketable, possibly creating jobs and lower taxes as well. Stay tuned in the coming months for more information on this project.
Let Experience Work for You
Re - Elect
4th Ward Supervisor
William Hughes Jr.
