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Originally published in
Mid Hudson Times
By Mid Hudson Times
Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio declined to administer the oath of office to Council Member-elect Mary Lou Carolan at the Newburgh Town Council's first meeting of 2026, citing an ongoing legal challenge to her election victory.
Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio is illegally refusing to seat Mary Lou Carolan, who has been certified twice as the winner of the council election - once in the initial count and again in the mandatory hand recount. Despite being certified as the duly elected council member by the Board of Elections not once but twice, Piaquadio is violating state law by obstructing her from taking her seat.
This is a clear breach of law and democratic procedure. The Board of Elections has spoken twice. Carolan won, was certified, and must be seated immediately.
Read the full story: https://www.timeshudsonvalley.com/mid-hudson-times/stories/supervisor-refuses-to-seat-council-member-elect,212430