HUDSON — Michael Hofmann, 30, co-founder of Citizens of Hudson and development operations manager for the Fisher Center at Bard College, is running against incumbent city Treasurer Heather Campbell for her position, a seat that was last contested in 2013.
Hofmann has a background in non-profit arts development and administration.
“I aim to use my expertise to make Hudson’s finances easier to understand, so that more citizens can be knowledgeable about and participate meaningfully in the budgeting process,” he said in a statement.
Campbell ran for re-election unopposed in 2017 and won as a Democrat against Republican challenger Rachel Kappel in 2013. In 2009, 5th Ward Alderwoman Eileen Halloran won uncontested. The position is a two-year term.
Campbell will run for re-election, petitioning as a Democrat, she said Monday. She does not yet have thoughts on Hofmann’s announcement for candidacy and has not yet released her official platform, as she has been busy in her treasurer job, she said. Campbell pointed to her work at city finance meetings over the past eight years when asked about her priorities.
Hofmann is a registered Democrat and has been endorsed by the Working Families Party. He plans to run on both Democrat and Working Families party lines, he said Monday.
If he wins, Hofmann would be the city’s first openly gay treasurer, according to his campaign.
Both candidates will have to make their case to city voters, Mayor Kamal Johnson said Monday.
“This is election season, so I think they both have to make their case to the voters for their vision of Hudson and how its budget should look,” Johnson said. “It’s up to the voters to decide whose vision is more clear for the direction that they want to see their city.” Common Council President Thomas DePietro also emphasized the democratic process.
“It’s important to remind voters that the treasurer is an elected official,” DePietro said. “And we should expect clear communication and constructive leadership from that office.”
Johnson, DePietro, and Hofmann all did not know whether or not Campbell planned to run for re-election Monday morning.
As cofounder of Citizens of Hudson, a progressive social justice group, Hofmann co-wrote the Hudson Breathe Act, a police reform proposal. The council did not pass the proposed legislation Oct. 20 with five members in support and six members in opposition. The act was co-sponsored by the Hudson-Catskill Housing Coalition, 2nd Ward Alderwoman and Majority Leader Tiffany Garriga and Citizens of Hudson. DePietro, 4th Ward Alderman John Rosenthal and 1st Ward Alderwoman and Minority Leader Rebecca Wolff helped make the proposal a resolution.
“We have to look deep and hard at policing in Hudson, and radically rethink what it means to invest in safety in our communities,” Hofmann said in September. “The Hudson Breathe Act is severely overdue — we need action now.”
The proposed legislation’s rejection did not stop Hofmann from attending city council meetings, for which he is a familiar face at.
“I am thrilled to take the next step in public service and leadership here in Hudson,” Hofmann said. “This campaign is an enormous opportunity for us to take a fresh and critical look at our finances and operations, and engage in constructive public discussion about how Hudson can recover from its pandemic-induced losses.”
Hofmann will share plans to upgrade city technical infrastructure, improve accessibility of the city’s financial data and develop new sources of revenue for the city, according to his campaign’s press release. He refers to the budget as an inherently moral document.
Capital District Working Families Party Chairwoman Karen Scharff described Hofmann as a bold supporter of racial and economic justice.
Petitioning begins Tuesday, according to the Columbia County Board of Elections. Petitions are submitted to the board between March 22 and March 25. Typically, candidates need 5% of the signatures of registered voters in their constituency to get on the ballot, but this year they need just 1.5% because of the pandemic.
Primary elections in Hudson are scheduled for June 22, with early voting from June 12–20. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 2, with early voting from Oct. 23–31.
*Editor's note: This story corrects an earlier version that stated the role of Hudson treasurer is a four-year term. The seat is a two-year position.