Kris Munn wins Red Hook and Tivoli Independent primary via write-in

On Tuesday, September 12, independent voters across Red Hook and Tivoli came out to write-in Dutchess County Legislature candidate Kristofer Munn. Election night returns suggested victory and when the votes were finally tallied on September 20, Munn defeated his opponent, 53-33.

September’s Independence OTB (Opportunity-to-Ballot) primary was created when petitions were filed with signatures of independent voters who wanted the opportunity to select their own candidate to represent them instead of having the county politicos pick one for them.

“I’m honored and grateful to have been chosen by the independent voters of Red Hook and Tivoli to represent them on the ballot in November,” said Munn. “I’m proud to be their pick and look forward to becoming county legislator and continuing to serve my community.”

Kristofer Munn is a longtime community volunteer who has advocated for saving local farms, open space preservation and tax reform, served on the Red Hook town planning and zoning boards and published the Red Hook Observer, the free community newspaper.

Munn also clinched the Green Party line via write-in. He will appear on the Independence, Democratic, Working Families, Green and Women’s Equality Party lines on November 7, 2017.

(L to R): 2017 Red Hook slate – Red Hook Town Board member Bill O’Neill, Town Board candidate Christine Kane and Dutchess County Legislature candidate Kristofer Munn

Trailblazers endorsement of Munn for County Legislature


Trailblazers PAC, the non-partisan pro-transparency organization founded by former State Senate candidate Leslie Danks Burke, today announced its endorsement of five candidates seeking local office across New York State including Kristofer Munn for Dutchess County District 20 (Red Hook) Legislator.

Trailblazers PAC considers candidates running at the county level or below in New York or Pennsylvania who stand for honest government by fully disclosing all their campaign finances (far beyond the state regulations), and who make themselves accountable to their own voters by raising a portion of campaign funds from at least 1% of the voting households within their own districts. The Trailblazers PAC endorsement recognizes exceptional candidates who demonstrably commit to continued transparency once in office.

In addition to direct contributions to endorsed candidates, Trailblazers PAC provides candidate and supporter training programs that have had over 500 attendees at a dozen workshops across New York and Pennsylvania in the past eight months.

“I’m honored to receive the Trailblazers PAC endorsement. My work as our community newspaper before my candidacy has proven invaluable in teaching me about our community and proving my desire for honest, open and transparent government at all levels,” said Munn.

Petitions filed in County Legislature race

More than a dozen volunteers helped Kristofer Munn acquire the hundreds of signatures necessary to secure ballot lines in November’s election.

“Many hands make light work so I’m thankful to have the support of so many volunteers in Red Hook and Tivoli who were willing to knock on doors for me,” said Kristofer Munn who is running for Dutchess County Legislator.

Munn has received the endorsement of the NY Working Families and Women’s Equality parties and secured signatures to clinch those lines along with the Democratic line.

The upcoming election for county legislator will be held on November 7, 2017.

Hudson Valley labor stands behind Munn

After careful consideration, the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation (HVALF) endorsed Kristofer Munn for Dutchess County Legislature on July 10.

“We are confident that your decisions as an elected official will reflect the values of the working families throughout your district,” wrote Ron Diaz, the President of Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation.

“Working families have struggled for years to make ends meet with wages stagnating and even dropping in some areas,” said Munn. “I’m 100% behind policies that will help the working and middle classes which I consider the engine of our economy and the cornerstone of our country.”

The upcoming election for county legislator will be held on November 7, 2017.

Working Families endorses Kris Munn for County Legislature

The Working Families Party has endorsed Kristofer Munn for Dutchess County Legislator.

“It is with great pleasure that I am writing you today to tell you that the Working Families Party of New York State has decided to endorse you in your race this year,” wrote Phil Leber, the Hudson Regional Political Director of Working Families.

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of Working Families and look forward to serving all the hard-working people of Red Hook and Tivoli in the county legislature next year,” said Munn. “Now more than ever, we need to focus on policies that provide opportunity for all our neighbors to succeed.”

Red Hook Democrats Endorse Kristofer Munn for County Legislature

Micki Strawinski and Kristofer Munn

Red Hook, NY – The Red Hook Democratic Committee endorsed Kristofer Munn for Dutchess County Legislator at their business meeting on Wednesday, April 26.

Micki Strawinski, who currently serves as county legislator for Red Hook (District 20), decided not to pursue re-election to a third term this November and told the committee, “After two terms in the County Legislature and four years on the Red Hook Town Board, I’ve decided not to seek re-election this fall so I can spend more time with my family,” said Strawinski. “I plan to stay involved in Red Hook as a volunteer in local organizations.”

After hearing from Strawinski, the committee unanimously endorsed Munn who also attends county meetings and has been working closely with Strawinski over the past few months.

Among those RHDC members voting to endorse were Red Hook Town Supervisor Robert McKeon, Town Councilmembers Harry Colgan and Bill O’Neill and Strawinski.

Chair John Schmitz said, “I’ve worked with Kris for over 10 years and know him to be an intelligent and practical problem solver, genuinely interested in the public good. I’m sure he will be a great county legislator for Red Hook.”

A long-time resident and community volunteer in Red Hook, Kristofer Munn may be best known as the former publisher of The Observer, the local community newspaper that was delivered free to every home every two weeks from 2012 through 2014. He served on the Red Hook Planning Board for 5 years and since 2015 sits on the Red Hook Zoning Board of Appeals.

Munn also works for the multinational book publisher Penguin Random House in their Information Technology department.

“I hope to follow Micki’s example and serve Red Hook voters as legislator the same way I did our readers at the paper,” said Munn. “By listening to all sides and being honest about what’s working and what isn’t. I’ll do my best to keep Red Hook informed about County business and I look forward to working with the legislature and the county executive on developing real solutions that include Red Hook’s priorities as well as Dutchess County’s.”

Kristofer Munn, 46, lives in Red Hook his their five children, all of whom attend Red Hook’s public schools.