Dan French

Daniel J. French
Town Supervisor of Beekman, New York
Personal details
Born	June 29, 1981
Political party	Democratic Party
Other political affiliations	Working Families Party
Alma mater	Binghamton University, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy

Daniel J. "Dan" French (born June 29, 1981) is an American politician who was the supervisor of the Town of Beekman, New York. He was the 2011 Democratic nominee for Dutchess County executive.

Early life

French was born in the Bronx to parents Jack, a union painter, and Carolyn. The family moved to the Town of Beekman when French was seven years old.^[1] As a student at Arlington High School, French played on the varsity soccer team until his graduation in 1999. He still plays the sport today.^[2] After high school, French graduated from Binghampton University in 2003 with a degree in history, 11 days before the death of his father.^[3]

To support his family, French moved back to Beekman and worked shifts as a substitute teacher and waiter.^[4] French ran for town council later that year, after responding to a newspaper advertisement searching for candidates. He lost by 66 votes, less than two percent of votes cast.^[5]

Career

In 2004, French won a special election to the town council at the age of 23.^[6] He was reelected in 2005, receiving the largest number of votes of any council candidate.^[7] To supplement his work as a councilman, French enrolled at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy and earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration in 2006.^[8] Upon receiving that degree, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Elections in Dutchess County.^[9] Two years later, then-Governor David Paterson appointed French to the board of trustees at Dutchess Community College for a six-year term.^[10]

With the seat vacated by three-term incumbent John D. Adams, French entered the race for Beekman Town Supervisor in 2009. He defeated a fellow council member, Republican Barbara Zulauf, with 59% of the vote.^[11][12] As supervisor, French was credited with balancing the budget without an increase to property taxes, and returning $383,000 to the town's rainy day fund.^[13]

2011 County Executive campaign

On April 7, 2011, French announced his candidacy for Dutchess County Executive, an open seat after 20-year incumbent William Steinhaus said he would not seek reelection.^[14]

In its convention on June 6, French won the nomination of the Dutchess County Democratic Party in a unanimous endorsement.^[15] French also obtained the Working Families Party nomination, but was unsuccessful in winning that of the Independence Party. A May 20 meeting of six members of the party's interim executive committee did not grant French an authorization, thereby refusing a primary for the nomination.^[16]

On July 14, the French campaign announced that it had obtained 5,000 signatures to obtain ballot status, exceeding the legal requirement by 3,000 names. Conflict emerged when Conservative Party leaders submitted Republican opponent Marcus Molinaro's paperwork after the deadline. Expecting that the Republican elections commissioner would accept the papers, the French campaign sued to dismiss them; ultimately, however, commissioners of each party ruled the submission invalid.^[17][18]

Throughout August, French received a wave of over a dozen union endorsements. He especially received attention for joining members of the Communications Workers of America on the picket line during the union's strike against Verizon.^[19][20] He then lost.

References

1. Dan French for Dutchess County (April 10, 2011). "Dan describes his early upbringing". YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
2. "High School Years". Dan French for County Executive.
3. Dan French for Dutchess County (April 10, 2011). "Dan describes the hard times". YouTube. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
4. "Trying to Make End's Meet". Dan French for County Executive.
5. "2003 General Election Results". Dutchess County Board of Elections. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
6. Davis, John (13 November 2004). "Democrat wins seat in Beekman". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
7. Shapley, Dan (9 November 2005). "Voters back open space plan; council race close". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
8. Kaye, Stephen (1 April 2011). "Dan French Runs against Molinaro for Executive". The Millbrook Independent. Archived from the original on August 30, 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
9. "June 28, 2006 Meeting Minutes" (PDF). Town Board of Bethlehem, New York. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
10. "French Appointed to Dutchess Community College Board of Trustees". Hudson Valley Press. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
11. "2005 General Election Results" (PDF). Dutchess County Board of Elections. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
12. "Detailed Voter Affiliation Statistics". Dutchess County Board of Elections. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
13. "Belt tightening returns over $380,000 to Beekman Town budget". Mid Hudson News. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
14. Schick, Curtis. "Race for county executives begin". Your News Now. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
15. Hertz, Larry (6 June 2011). "Dan French accepts Democratic nomination for Dutchess County exec". Poughkeepsie Journal. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
16. "Molinaro captures third line on November ballot". Mid Hudson News. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
17. Valkys, Michael (26 July 2011). "French's suit aims to keep Molinaro off Conservative line". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
18. Hertz, Larry (2 August 2011). "Dutchess County executive candidate Marc Molinaro loses spot on ballot's Conservative line". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
19. Gross, Hank (19 August 2011). "Striking CWA workers endorse French". Mid Hudson News. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
20. "CWA Endorses French". Register-Star. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.