Ulster Legislator Nolan unopposed in District 22
Incumbent Democrat Kathy Nolan is running unopposed for reelection to a two-year term in the Ulster County Legislature’s District 22 seat.
A Mount Tremper resident, Nolan first served on the Ulster County Legislature in 2018-2019, before being defeated by former Legislator John Parete, whom she had defeated two years earlier. She returned to the Legislature in 2022, after defeating Republican John Friedel in the 2021 race.
In the Legislature, she serves on the Health, Human Services and Housing Committee and the Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee.
Nolan says Ulster County is facing a number of difficult issues, including the need for more affordable housing, climate change and sustainable and equitable employment opportunities.
She said that given the county’s strong financial position, the county is well poised to take on those issues and supports investing in affordable housing opportunities and looking for creative mechanisms to make housing available to the county’s residents and workforce. Nolan said she also supports helping landlords repair and renovate properties in ways that would reduce carbon emissions and provide employment opportunities for the local workforce.
Nolan also said she would continue to push to link the trails throughout the county, saying in response to a Freeman inquiry that “(m)aintaining and expanding our rail trail network provides health, recreational, transportation, and economic benefits, and the entire county would benefit from linking all our trails together with a hub in Kingston.”
She also called for continued support for the arts and artists and the protection of farms and farmland, which she said can be helped by employing practices that can withstand intense rainfall events, renew pollinator communities, and provide healthy, locally-grown food for residents of the county and throughout New York.
Nolan holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Louis University, a master’s degree in law from Yale Law School and a medical degree from Yale Medical School. She is a researcher for the group Catskill Mountainkeeper.
District 22 comprises the towns of Olive, Denning, Shandaken and Hardenburgh.
Early voting begins on Oct. 28. Election Day is Nov. 7.