Mike and his wife are proud to call Fishkill home. They value the Hudson Valley’s strong communities, the beauty of the Hudson Highlands, and the small-town character that makes the region such a special place to live.

About Mike | Mike Schade for Dutchess County Legislature

In that role, he leads campaigns that protect families from toxic chemicals and hold corporations accountable for pollution. He holds a degree in Environmental Studies from SUNY Buffalo.

Mike Schade holds a degree in environmental studies from SUNY Buffalo. He lives with his wife in Fishkill.

Mike currently serves as Senior Director of Programs and Strategy at Toxic-Free Future, a national environmental health research and advocacy organization.

In that role, he leads campaigns that protect families from toxic chemicals and hold corporations accountable for pollution.

Experience
Mind the Store Campaign Director
Toxic-Free Future · 2014 to now
Markets Campaign Coordinator
Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) · 2005 to 2014

Mike Schade

Mike Schade currently serves as senior director of programs and strategy at Toxic-Free Future. He previously worked as a markets campaign coordinator at the Center for Health, Environment & Justice.

Mike Schade for Dutchess County Legislature - District 17 | Sway

2026 New York General Election

Mike's top priorities.
Make Fishkill and Dutchess County more affordable for working families and seniors
Stop wasteful county spending and bring financial resources back to Fishkill
Promote responsible growth that protects our quality of life, not overdevelopment that increases traffic and strains local resources

Mike Schade for Dutchess County Legislature

Calls for ending wasteful county spending and returning financial resources to Fishkill.

- Calls for ending wasteful county spending and returning financial resources to Fishkill.

Economy

More recently, Mike has worked alongside residents and community leaders responding to the massive AI data center being evaluated in neighboring East Fishkill. He spoke at two community rallies and addressed the Town Board during a public hearing in support of a three-year moratorium on large-scale data centers, which was unanimously approved.

Mike believes projects of this scale could increase pressure on the electric grid, contribute to higher Central Hudson bills, and place additional demands on local infrastructure and water resources that affect neighboring communities like Fishkill. He is committed to responsible growth that protects taxpayers and gives residents a meaningful voice before projects of this magnitude move forward.

Advocated for a three-year moratorium on large-scale data centers in East Fishkill.

Commits to giving residents meaningful input before large-scale projects move forward.

- Advocated for a three-year moratorium on large-scale data centers in East Fishkill.
- Commits to giving residents meaningful input before large-scale projects move forward.

Public Services

He has taken a leading role on local issues impacting Fishkill and surrounding communities:

He helped lead the successful effort to pass Good Cause Eviction in Fishkill, a law that protects tenants from unfair rent hikes and evictions, while respecting responsible landlords. Fishkill became the first town in New York State to adopt the policy, which was approved unanimously on a bipartisan basis.

Helped lead Fishkill in adopting Good Cause Eviction protections against unfair rent hikes and evictions.

- Helped lead Fishkill in adopting Good Cause Eviction protections against unfair rent hikes and evictions.

Housing & Urban Development

As of October 26, 2026, Mike Schade’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

“That’s simply staggering. No community should be expected to absorb that kind of demand without asking very tough questions first. When one project requires more than six times the electricity needed to power every home in Dutchess County, we’re not talking about neighborhood development anymore. We’re talking about a massive industrial-scale facility operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with impacts that could extend far beyond East Fishkill.

“At a time when families are struggling to pay their utility bills, residents should not be asked to shoulder the costs of infrastructure upgrades needed to serve some of the largest and wealthiest corporations in the world.

“The Hudson Valley should absolutely welcome economic development. But development should strengthen communities, not strain infrastructure or diminish quality of life. Responsible growth means planning for the future, not gambling with it.

By Unanimous Vote, East Fishkill Town Board Passes 3-Year Moratorium on Data Centers

Opposes asking residents to bear the costs of infrastructure upgrades needed to serve large corporations.

- Opposes asking residents to bear the costs of infrastructure upgrades needed to serve large corporations.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Mike also serves on the Stewart Air National Guard Restoration Advisory Board, where he advocates for the clean up of PFAS "forever chemicals" that contaminated drinking water supplies in Newburgh.

Advocates for cleaning up contamination from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in Newburgh's drinking-water supplies.

Advocates for cleaning up contamination in Newburgh's drinking-water supplies.

- Advocates for cleaning up contamination in Newburgh's drinking-water supplies.