By Jasmin Boyce

College Republicans welcomed Dutchess County Executive, Marcus Molinaro, to the Flom Auditorium stage last night. He was the first guest speaker hosted by the club in the new year.

Club members said they hoped to ignite students’ desire to participate in the politics of local vicinities, through deepening the audience’s understanding of nearby local government proceedings.

The event served as a platform for the Republican official to share his proposals for improving prevalent issues faced in many areas of New York.

Colton Hillman, GSB ’19, vice president of College Republicans, said he finds local government to have a strong impact despite an overall lack of emphasis on local politics.

“Personally, I think local [government] is so important. All we hear about is the president, the Senate and the House of Representatives, but in local [government] that’s where you have most of the change and what effects people most directly,” said Hillman.

“Every day we make decisions at the local level that affect you everyday, and it could be as small as a stop sign at an intersection or as big as criminal justice, jail management and bail reform,” said Molinaro.

Molinaro said this range of issues has great effects, regardless of scope. “We do that all at the local level and that has a big impact on people.”

Molinaro, an upstate New York local politician, began taking on roles in local politics as a result of wanting to positively impact his own community.

At 18 years old, in 1994,  Molinaro was elected to serve on the Village of Tivoli Board of Trustees,a community within Dutchess County. After a year on the board, he became the youngest mayor in the United States when he ran for office unopposed after the previous Mayor of Tivoli retired. Concluding 12 years of service as the village mayor, he was elected Dutchess County’s youngest executive, at the age of 36, in 2011.

“If they’re earnest and honest about it, I think young people have a lot to offer, and should be encouraged to find their way,” stated Molinaro, “whether that’s elected office or volunteering, like I did, or civic engagement.” 

The county executive’s conversation with students covered various topics. Subjects including bipartisanship, community issues, faults in government structure and tips on navigating classroom political debates. Molinaro encouraged students to keep a collaborative and respectful mindset when approaching political issues.

Fordham College Republicans Treasurer, Dominique Marino, FCRH ’20, noted the importance of Molinaro’s comments on collaboration.

“I think the most important thing that Mr. Molinaro said was regarding the importance of reaching across the aisle and the importance of compromise when getting things done; it’s so easy to get caught up in the partisan politics,” said Marino.

The event scheduled for 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. ran well over, as the Dutchess County Executive and the audience spent the majority of the encounter in an interactive question and answer dynamic.

Dutchess County is home to around 300,000 citizens, and Molinaro said he makes it a priority to listen to his community’s needs.  

“I think elected officials are supposed to understand the people they represent. They’re supposed to have a connection. Having a real connection to the people you serve is very important and it can’t be faked,” said Molinaro.

The Dutchess County Executive allowed the audience to approach him and continue asking questions after the event had ended.