Dan French Explained

Daniel J. French
Birth Date:29 June 1981
Office:Town Supervisor
of Beekman, New York
Party:Democratic Party
Otherparty:Working Families Party
Alma Mater:Binghamton University, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy

Daniel J. 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, his father, Jack, a union painter, and Carolyn. The family moved to the Town of Beekman when French was seven years old.[1] A 1999 Arlington High School graduate, French played on the varsity soccer team and still plays the sport today.[2]

After high school, French graduated from Binghamton 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 the 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 the election to Molinaro and moved to Florida.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dan describes his early upbringing . Dan French for Dutchess County . YouTube . April 10, 2011 . July 23, 2014.
  2. Web site: High School Years. Dan French for County Executive.
  3. Web site: Dan describes the hard times . Dan French for Dutchess County . YouTube . April 10, 2011 . July 23, 2014.
  4. Web site: Trying to Make End's Meet. Dan French for County Executive.
  5. Web site: 2003 General Election Results. Dutchess County Board of Elections. 8 June 2011. 25 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325032859/http://www.dutchesselections.com/Election_Results/GE03/GE03UNOFFICIALRESULTS.HTM. dead.
  6. News: Davis. John. Democrat wins seat in Beekman. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107001659/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/poughkeepsiejournal/access/1795039201.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+13,+2004&author=John+Davis&pub=The+Poughkeepsie+Journal&edition=&startpage=B.1&desc=Democrat+wins+seat+in+Beekman. dead. November 7, 2012. 8 June 2011. Poughkeepsie Journal. 13 November 2004.
  7. News: Shapley. Dan. Voters back open space plan; council race close. 13 June 2011. Poughkeepsie Journal. 9 November 2005. 7 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107020150/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/poughkeepsiejournal/access/1774428811.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+9,+2005&author=Dan+Shapley&pub=The+Poughkeepsie+Journal&edition=&startpage=A.6&desc=Voters+back+open+space+plan%3B+council+race+close. dead.
  8. News: Kaye . Stephen . Dan French Runs against Molinaro for Executive . 8 June 2011 . The Millbrook Independent . 1 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110830225257/http://themillbrookindependent.com/content/dan-french-runs-against-molinaro-executive . August 30, 2011 .
  9. Web site: June 28, 2006 Meeting Minutes. Town Board of Bethlehem, New York. 8 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927033808/http://www.townofbethlehem.org/uploads/pub_171120060628.pdf. 2011-09-27. dead.
  10. News: French Appointed to Dutchess Community College Board of Trustees. 13 June 2011. Hudson Valley Press. 27 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002212208/http://www.hvpress.net/news/129/ARTICLE/5251/2008-09-27.html. 2 October 2011. dead. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: 2005 General Election Results. Dutchess County Board of Elections. 8 June 2011. 25 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325032950/http://www.dutchesselections.com/Election_Results/GE09/GE09%20OFFICIAL%20ACCUM.PDF. dead.
  12. Web site: Detailed Voter Affiliation Statistics. Dutchess County Board of Elections. 8 June 2011. 25 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120325033024/http://www.dutchesselections.com/enrollment/VOTER%20STATS%20101006.HTM. dead.
  13. News: Belt tightening returns over $380,000 to Beekman Town budget. 8 June 2011. Mid Hudson News. 10 May 2011. 27 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927053545/http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/May/10/Beekman_budget-10May11.htm. dead.
  14. Web site: Schick. Curtis. Race for county executives begin. Your News Now. 13 June 2011. 15 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120315175542/http://hudsonvalley.ynn.com/content/540077/race-for-county-executives-begin/. dead.
  15. News: Hertz . Larry . Dan French accepts Democratic nomination for Dutchess County exec . 8 June 2011 . Poughkeepsie Journal . 6 June 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609215601/http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110607/NEWS01/106070336/Dan-French-accepts-Democratic-nomination-Dutchess-County-exec . June 9, 2011 .
  16. News: Molinaro captures third line on November ballot. 8 June 2011. Mid Hudson News. 23 May 2011. 27 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927053549/http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/May/23/Molinaro_IndPty-23May11.html. dead.
  17. News: Valkys. Michael. French's suit aims to keep Molinaro off Conservative line. 4 September 2011. Poughkeepsie Journal. 26 July 2011. 7 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107215130/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/poughkeepsiejournal/access/2413530251.html?FMT=ABS&date=Jul+26,+2011. dead.
  18. News: Hertz. Larry. Dutchess County executive candidate Marc Molinaro loses spot on ballot's Conservative line. 4 September 2011. 2 August 2011. The Poughkeepsie Journal. 7 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121107215200/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/poughkeepsiejournal/access/2413442941.html?FMT=ABS&date=Aug+02,+2011. dead.
  19. News: Gross. Hank. Striking CWA workers endorse French. 4 September 2011. Mid Hudson News. 19 August 2011. 31 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120331162951/http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2011/August/19/French_CWA-19Aug11.html. dead.
  20. News: CWA Endorses French. https://archive.today/20120910204222/http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2011/08/20/news/doc4e4f3b9b9d132583789970.txt. dead. 10 September 2012. 4 September 2011. Register-Star. 20 August 2011.

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