Town of Montgomery resident Frances Fox-Pizzonia is campaigning for a four-year term as Orange County Legislator in District 9, the seat currently held by Legislature Chairman Steve Brescia.

She is concerned about the Orange County Industrial Development Agency’s lack of transparency.

“The county IDA has functioned in a way that has not resulted in the promises of what has been afforded to companies that have come in and the PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes) that they have received based on what they have promised,” she said. “I have not seen any measure of accountability to ensure that when those deals are made that those companies are held to those promises that they’re getting the PILOTs for or a change in those waivers if they don’t produce what they put in their application that they would be generating.”

The Orange County Legislature recently voted to remove all seven members of the county IDA board, amid an investigation by the District Attorney’s office into the organization’s finances. Brescia, a member of the IDA board, abstained in the vote.

Fox-Pizzonia also believes that the county needs a public health system that combats the opioid epidemic, expands mental health services and increases access to quality healthcare for all. She added that solutions need to be built that focus on increasing food stability as well as economic growth.

“We’re not seeing the jobs growing in Orange County that actually are producing a livable wage for people to live and work here,” she said.
One of the main parts of Fox-Pizzonia’s platform is to approach racial injustice head on. She believes that the communities in District 9 need leadership that listens, centers equity and commits to real systemic change. Fox-Pizzonia wants to invest in the county’s youth as well as its changing and diverse communities. She wants more people to invest in black-owned businesses.

Another facet of Fox-Pizzonia’s platform is in regards to COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution. She believes that there needs to be effective advocacy with county and state partners to ensure that the most vulnerable and essential workers receive priority access to COVID-19 vaccines while they seek increased resources for COVID-19 testing and vaccines for mass distribution. Fox-Pizzonia wants safe, strategic planning to reopen schools as well as increased support for small businesses to recover and thrive. She also believes there should be public nursing care for the elderly and infirmed that ensures their safety, dignity and quality of life while investing equally in health care professionals through livable wages and best practice standards of care.

If elected legislator, she would bring integrity to the position. Fox-Pizzonia would also listen to all of her constituents, regardless of their political party affiliation.

She brings a wealth of experience in management as well as understanding public needs, which would help her tremendously as a legislator. Fox-Pizzonia served as vice president for Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley for 27 years. During that time, she managed million dollar budgets, developed programs and collaborated with county legislators to enact important legislation. Fox-Pizzonia is also a licensed social worker, serving over 30 years.

These days Fox-Pizzonia has been petitioning, which looks significantly different than in years past due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been setting up appointments with people in order to safely receive their signature. So far she has been endorsed by the Orange County Democratic Committee and the Working Families Party.

Fox-Pizzonia has until March 25 to file her candidacy petition with the Orange County Board of Elections. If she becomes a candidate she will start to campaign, which is something Fox-Pizzonia is looking forward to.

“I have every intention of being as public as I can, as safely as I can in order to begin to connect with the constituents in District 9,” she said. “I want to listen to them and listen to what they are looking for in a public servant and also share what I will bring to the position.”

The candidates for Orange County Legislator in District 9 will appear on the general election ballot. The election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 2.