Newbies Win Legislative Primaries

NEWBURGH – It was a big night for political newcomers who won Orange County legislative Democratic primary races on Tuesday night. Three African American women, Gabrielle Hill, Shauna Best, and DeShanda Carter, all earned wins against more experienced opponents.

Hill defeated incumbent Kevindaryan Luján on Tuesday in a primary for the seat in District 6 of the Orange County Legislature. District 6 includes downtown Newburgh and parts of Balmville. Despite Luján being a two-term legislator, the Orange County and City of Newburgh Democratic committees endorsed Hill over him.

There is no Republican candidate on the ballot for November’s general election. Hill, a lifelong City of Newburgh resident, will take office in January.

“The people have spoken, and it is exciting,” said Hill, who secured 411 votes to Luján’s 230. “I think residents are sick of the regular nonsense from their representatives. They want genuine and authentic leaders, and I am honored to have so many people come out and support me.”

Best defeated longtime legislator Michael Paduch by a vote of 244-126 in a Democratic primary in the 9th District. Orange County Democrats endorsed Best over Paduch, the Orange County Legislature’s Minority Leader, who has served on the board since 1998.
Best, who is the program director at the Middletown YMCA and is a member of the Pine Bush School Board, will face Republican two-termer Rob Sassi in November’s general election. Under the new redistricting, the 9th District includes the towns of Crawford, Wallkill, and Montgomery.

In District 11, which includes parts of the Town of Wallkill and the City of Middletown, Carter defeated the endorsed Democratic candidate, Eric Valentin, by a vote of 343-251. Carter has worked as an actress, a corrections officer at Riker’s Island, one of America’s toughest prisons, and now as a small business owner.

Valentin, a Wallkill town councilman for the last 24 years, has the Conservative line and could still run in November’s general election.

“Zak Constantine, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Committee said, “I am just proud that three women of color who worked incredibly hard one their races. We supported them against incumbents, and I think that will pay off in November. I have never felt better about our candidates.”