Dennis Leahy, the Village of Maybrook mayor, confirmed last Friday, June 13 that he will be running for the Orange County Legislature this November, challenging District 11 Legislator Kathy Stegenga for her seat.

Leahy originally moved to Maybrook in 1989; he considers the village a great place to raise his children, with proximity to his job and extended family. After getting involved with Maybrook’s youth sports and recreational activities, he sought to expand his community outreach and joined the village government in 2002. Leahy first served as a trustee between 2002 and 2006, then deputy mayor between 2006 and 2008, and finally mayor starting in 2008. Outside of government, he has 29 years of experience at Verizon, working as a field technician and fiber optics splicer.

Over the last 17 years, Leahy and the board have improved Maybrook through various projects and initiatives. Under the mayor’s leadership, the village has revamped its senior and government centers, upgraded its parks, established new recreation programs, repaved its streets, and replaced its sidewalk curbs. One of Leahy’s biggest accomplishments is the village’s sewer plant; originally built in 2015, this plant is currently worth $25 million and has room for build-out if the village ever needs more capacity in the future.

Leahy grew interested in the OC Legislature following recent changes to the county’s district lines. The Village of Maybrook was previously under District 9, grouped with the Towns of Montgomery and Wallkill, but was shifted to District 11, now grouped with Hamptonburgh and Washingtonville. Leahy sees the District 11 seat as a great opportunity to both represent his village and expand his government experience on a county level. He assured that, if he does become a legislator, he will still serve as Maybrook’s mayor, noting that he has more work to do in the village.

“If I do win, however, I will continue serving as village mayor, as I still have unfinished work to do,” he added.