Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D- Hudson) announced today that she will seek re-election to represent the residents of the 106th Assembly District, which includes parts of Dutchess and Columbia counties. Barrett has received overwhelming support from the community, collecting nearly 2000 signatures, triple the amount required, for her nominating petitions.
Barrett has chosen to announce her 2014 campaign through a photo video that showcases the people and places that make up her Hudson Valley Assembly District. “I truly love this district,” said Assemblymember Barrett. “The natural beauty, agricultural traditions, rich history and culture are spectacular. But it is the people — the hardworking families, community leaders, small business owners, farmers — that make this region so very special. I pledge to continue to be a full-time legislator, ensuring that the concerns of my constituents are always heard in Albany.”
Serving in the Assembly since 2012, Didi Barrett has fought for what matters most to Hudson Valley residents: Opposing high-voltage power lines that threaten local communities; introducing and passing important Lyme disease legislation; passing two on-time state budgets that held the line on spending and cut taxes for middle-class families; and voting against all tax increases. She also helped pass the Women’s Equality Act to strengthen the rights of women and girls.
Committed to seeing an end to the corruption that has too-long plagued Albany, she co-sponsored legislation that strips taxpayer-funded pensions from elected officials convicted of a felony. Assemblymember Barrett has worked to restore integrity to state government, leading by example. She does not accept travel reimbursements or per diems for her time in Albany. “Hudson Valley families don’t get paid to travel to and from work, so why should I?” said Barrett.
For three years now Assemblymember Barrett has held her annual Diner Stop Tour to give constituents the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns with her in the relaxed atmosphere of their local diner, while at the same time supporting a local business.
Prior to being elected to the Assembly, Barrett, the mother of two young adults, was a longtime community activist. She created the Dutchess Girls Collaborative to support local girls and young women and helped launch the Northeast Dutchess Fund (NED) of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to improve the quality of life in the six towns that make up northeastern Dutchess County. She was a member of the Millbrook Education Foundation board and currently serves on the board of Sprout Creek Farm.
For the full announcement, please view the campaign kick-off video in the link here.