On Sunday, May 17th, the two candidates for this upcoming Town Supervisor election participated in a public forum. The Student Council, in collaboration with the Daily Catch, hosted a discussion between the two democratic candidates, Amanda Miller and Debbie Hecht. This event was a big success, and saw many firsts.
In February, Democrat Elizabeth Spinzia announced that she will not seek reelection for the Town Supervisor position, ending a tenure that lasted seven terms and 14 years. Spinzia has been heavily involved in our local government for 15 years, and her leave represents an opportunity for change in our town. This means that Rhinebeck will have a new Town Supervisor for the first time in over 12 years, which leaves the question of who will replace Spinzia and fill this important role.
Amanda Miller and Debbie Hecht are both democrats, but have very different visions for Rhinebeck’s future. Debbie Hecht has served as Deputy Town Supervisor for over a year, and is very involved in the local community. She co-founded Rhinebeck’s first pride organization, BeckHook Pride, in 2023. She has defined her campaign as a continuation of Spinzia’s work as Town Supervisor. She wishes to keep Rhinebeck on its current course, and has expressed her desire to keep Rhinebeck “the same” for years to come. Although they share political affiliation, Amanda Miller’s vision for Rhinebeck is drastically different. She wants to take initiative and progress the town, although her critics say that these moves could erase the small-town vibe that has been protected here in Rhinebeck. Miller’s background is not in politics but instead in law. She continues her career as a lawyer, and has served as Rhinebeck special prosecutor, and was notably part of the legal team that prevented the deportation of Gerson Turcios. She entered the local political scene when she fought against the town when a proposed solar farm was to be placed near her neighborhood. She has served on the school board, where she pushed for a universal Pre-K system. It should be noted that both Amanda Miller and Debbie Hecht are avid environmentalists, and Miller’s website even says that environmental sustainability is proportional to our local economy’s growth. Despite only meeting twice, the two candidates have deep respect for each other, and yet their goals and agendas are drastically different.
This event at the school is more significant than it may seem. PandaTV, a local broadcasting organization, conducted their first live broadcast at the forum. As previously stated, this election will be the first one resulting in a new Town Supervisor for the first time in well over a decade. Because of this, the auditorium was nearly full, with around 300 people attending. The Daily Catch also hosted their first Q&A for candidates, and Rhinebeck High School was lucky enough to host this event. Seniors Caswell LaRose and Jennifer Cruz were given the honor of introducing the two candidates and reading their bios. Newspaper Executive Editor Zsuzsanna Moore asked the first question of the forum, probing the candidates about the cost of housing for young people hoping to raise families in Rhinebeck. Other members of the student council helped to usher the event, including Sophomore Class President Bennett Pulver, Vice President Justin Morton, and Freshman President Wilhelmina Hagedorn. Voting will open for the Democratic Primary on June 23rd at the Starr Library, and will determine who will succeed Elizabeth Spinzia as Rhinebeck Town Supervisor. The outcome of this election will affect the future of Rhinebeck, and its importance cannot be overstated.
