NEWBURGH – Former Beacon City Councilman Ali Muhammad moved across the Hudson 10 months ago. Now, he plans to challenge Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey in the Democratic primary this summer.
Muhammad was a Beacon councilman for two two-year terms but lost a bid for that city’s councilman-at-large post.
He currently works for Dutchess County Government in the Commission for Human Rights, but will be transitioning a youth and community empowerment job in the county’s Department of Family Services.
Muhammad said he wants to address the challenges facing Newburgh including lead pipes, lead paint, and the PFOS water issue. “They need leadership that will work with them to solve these problems,” he said.
Mayor Harvey said in a Facebook post that Muhammad is actually “a Republican who was kicked off Beacon City Council for supporting Marc Molinaro run against Democrat Governor Cuomo.” Molinaro is Dutchess County’s GOP county executive, with whom Muhammad campaigned last fall.
Harvey warned the city “must stay aware of the political factions trying to come into our city and control our city after just arriving here. They must learn who we are as a community before they try to create a hostile takeover.”
The incumbent is a Newburgh high school history teacher.
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