Didi Barrett Announces Run for New York State Senate

Apr 7, 2010

Millbrook, NY – Didi Barrett announced today that she will run for the New York State Senate in the 41st District. Rallies were held in Poughkeepsie and Hudson. Barrett decided to run after spending six weeks traveling across the district on a listening tour.

“Wherever I went I heard about frustration, disappointment, even embarrassment with Albany. I heard my neighbors’ anxiety about jobs and schools and anger about taxes,” said Barrett. “What I also heard was a profound desire for fresh ideas and new faces. I was moved by people’s enthusiasm for a citizen candidate who they could trust to bring their voices to Albany.”

Barrett has been a leader in the not-for-profit community for more than two decades. She is a board member of the North East Dutchess Fund and the Millbrook Education Foundation. She was the founder of Girls Inc of New York and is helping to found the Dutchess Girls Collaborative. For the last two years, she has been the coordinator for Millbrook’s Community Day. Barrett is also a Trustee Emeritus of the American Folk Art Museum.

“Didi Barrett is an exciting candidate who will bring new energy and fresh, innovative ideas to the State Senate. She understands the challenges facing our neighbors, from taxes to education to the economy,” said William Hughes, Supervisor of the 4th Ward in Hudson.

The 41st District includes all of Columbia County and most of Dutchess County. Barrett and her husband have owned their home in Millbrook for 23 years. Her roots in the region go back to 1938 when her grandfather and great uncle bought a farm in Ancram that is still in the family.

“The district is a snapshot of America – we are blessed with the diversity of cities, suburbs, villages, and small farm towns. We are also facing the same challenges as the rest of the nation – rising taxes and a struggling economy,” said Barrett.

“With only 9 women out of 62 senators in Albany, Didi will bring a much-needed perspective on clearing out the corruption and dysfunction in our state government,” said Dutchess County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson.

“We cannot truly help Main Street until we fix State Street,” said Barrett.