Patricia Maher, sister of Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher, will challenge incumbent Mike Anagnostakis in the Orange County Legislator, District 17 Republican Primary. This is the former candidate’s first attempt at running for public office. The 17th Legislative District encompasses the entire Village of Walden as well as parts of the towns of Montgomery and Newburgh.

Patricia Maher
Maher, of Walden, is a lifetime resident of Orange County and has dedicated much of her life to giving back to her community.

She is the co-founder of Hudson Valley Honor Flight, a nonprofit organization headquartered in the Village of Walden, whose mission is to allow veterans to visit their memorials in Washington D.C. through an all-expenses paid flight and day of honor. Since the organization was founded in 2012, nearly 2,000 veterans from throughout the Hudson Valley and the tri-state area have been honored.

Maher is also a volunteer for Hope Not Handcuffs, an organization that works closely with local law enforcement to help guide those who are troubled with addiction. For her involvement in the community in 2016 she was the recipient of the prestigious Orange County Rising Star Award.

In 2010, Maher graduated from Mount Saint Mary College with a bachelor’s degree in business management. She has spent 18 years working in the private sector. Her management experience has made her an experienced financial auditor and budget analyst. Maher has managed hundreds of employees and worked with multi-million dollar budgets in the sales industry.

“I am running for Orange County Legislator because I believe I am the best person for the job...,” she said. “If elected, I will be committed to my responsibilities in government and will also work hands on, being a problem solver on everyday issues. There is so much we can do to make a difference if we stand up and try.”

Maher noted that if elected county legislator, she will work with Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus to hold the line on county spending. She would also work with Neuhaus as well as local leaders to ensure that her constituents have everything they need to be successful during the state’s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a mother, a manager and a community service leader, Maher knows that it takes hard work to make an impactful difference.

“As your county legislator, you can trust that I will work hard and fight every day for the constituents of the 17th District,” she announced to constituents in a press release. “Integrity, work ethic and family are what my campaign will be built on. I look forward to meeting the voters the next several months and earning their vote.”

Maher is the endorsed Republican and Conservative Party candidate in the Orange County Legislator, District 17 Election.

Mike Anagnostakis
Anagnostakis says he's willing to battle corrupt political insiders and hopes to continue doing so.

“The only reason to force a primary is if you don’t like what the incumbent has accomplished,” he said. “As everyone knows, I have always fought for what’s best for the people, not the political insiders! I always fight against corruption, even if it is in my own Republican Party. Having stopped those political insiders so often, this is their latest desperate effort to get me out of office.”

In a statement sent to the Wallkill Valley Times, Anagnostakis discussed his record against these political insiders. He said he made them pay for the free health insurance they were receiving; froze their salaries for 12 years and stopped the mileage pay they were receiving for driving to work. All of these benefits were being funded by taxpayer dollars.

Anagnostaki broke ranks with the Orange County Legislative caucus several years ago and further angered Republicans in 2018 when he backed Democrat James Skoufis over Republican nominee Tom Basile in their bid to succeed the retiring State Senator Bill Larkin. He later joined the Skoufis staff as an investigator.

As an Orange County Legislator, Anagnostakis says he has fought welfare abuse, exposing many residents of Kiryas Joel. He was part of an effort that got Medline Industries, Inc. to pay their taxes, which helped return $17 million to Montgomery taxpayers.

Over a five-year period, Anagnostakis helped save Valley View Center nursing home in Goshen. He helped management run more smoothly and saved tens of millions of dollars for the taxpayers. Maintenance of the facility now runs at no cost to county taxpayers.

Anagnostakis noted that throughout his time as legislator, he has voted no 45 times to wasteful spending, which totaled over $127 million.

“That’s more no votes against waste than all other Republican legislators combined,” he said.

To help stop animal abuse in Orange County, Anagnostakis wrote and passed Rocky’s Law. Many municipalities throughout the country have copied the law.

“But, I think, what I’m most proud of is that I have provided each of my constituents with my home phone number and over the years have helped thousands of them with their issues,” Anagnostakis said.

He believes that the political insiders are the reason for the primary.

“The political insiders don’t like any of what I’ve accomplished and are trying to replace me with their hand-picked candidate,” Anagnostakis said. “But the people will pick who the Republican candidate is in the Republican Primary on Tuesday, June 22, not the Political Insiders!”

I vow to continue fighting for all of my constituents and to continue fighting against corruption even if it is in my own Republican Party,” Anagnostakis said. “As Orange County Legislator, I have given my all to the people in the Village of Walden and the towns of Montgomery and Newburgh and I will continue to do so in the future.”