Registered voters in Cornwall-on-Hudson are asked to vote for mayor and two trustee positions on Tuesday, March 18, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Edward C. Moulton, Jr. Board Room of Village Hall, 325 Hudson St., Cornwall-on-Hudson. In addition, there will be a ‘mandatory referendum’ on the ballot, to change the trustee terms, beginning with the 2026 elections, to four years.
The three candidates are running unopposed. James P. Kane, for mayor, and David Carnright, for trustee, are running on the Village First ticket, and William Braine, for trustee, is running on the Hometown Pride ticket. All three currently serve on the board as trustees.
The Cornwall Local asked the candidates to use the following question as a writing prompt, to give voters one last bit of information on them and their candidacies. We thank them for their responses to our question. It is:
What is your vision for Cornwall in the next two years, and how will you work with your fellow board members to achieve that?
Jim Kane
As our residents are well aware, the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson is truly a special place to live and to raise a family and being a Village Trustee for the past fifteen years, with six also as Deputy Mayor, has provided me the ability to do my part to ensure that it remains a wonderful community in the beautiful Hudson Valley. I am confident that residents have viewed my tenure as one which consistently strived to focus on local issues, infrastructure improvements, fiscal prudency, quality public services and judicious use of our beautiful landscape such as the river front and Donahue Farm. If elected mayor, I will remain committed to that pragmatic, practical, collaborative solution-seeking approach which always considers resident concerns. I remain grateful that I have earned your respect and trust for over a decade and a half as Trustee, and I humbly ask you to extend that trust as your next mayor on March 18.
Bill Braine
Beyond the many “basics” of keeping the Village running, I’m concerned about affordability, public health, and safety. They go hand in hand. Housing, healthcare, and grocery costs can stress households, especially younger and older people who are not at their peak workforce years or don’t own their homes.
Direct Village taxes and fees are only a component, but we can make some investments that will pay off: LED streetlights and solar installations on select Village properties can potentially save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. I believe the current Board is aligned on streetlights, and I’m sure the next will be willing to explore solar; if re-elected I hope to research and present it this spring.
Housing policy needs more discussion. I favor adopting the State’s “Pro-Housing Community” framework, where municipalities pass a resolution pledging to try to make housing less expensive and reporting on new units added; that would keep us eligible for a wide range of State grants. I’d also like to allow ADUs within strict guidelines.
Culture and events are booming, with multiple gatherings scheduled and a thriving community garden. Having free “stuff to do” is another way to save money for residents—let’s keep it up!
Dave Carnright
I have lived in Cornwall-on-Hudson my entire life and will always work hard to keep this a vibrant place to raise a family. I believe our village is currently doing very well, but of course, we still have things to do. Among them is the major water infrastructure work facing us, and the state of some local roads, namely Routes 218 and 9W. We will need to continue to work with our state and federal partners to get the assistance we need to complete the big projects; we will stay on them. The next few years will also be busy as we implement the New York Forward grant money, but how great that’s going to be, giving us a fresh look in some of our most populated areas, the center of the village and Donahue Park at the river.
Our board works well together – we have a good rapport, and we always pull for the common good. I will say that we will miss Mayor Gagliano as he departs for the next chapter of his life, but I know that we will continue to get more accomplished. We all have our areas of interest and knowledge, and by continuing to respect one another’s viewpoints we can get more done.