2026 New York General Election

Kristofer Munn

Buket Urgen

Family

Kristofer Munn lives in Red Hook with his five children, all of whom attend (or attended) Red Hook public schools.

About Kris | Kristofer Munn for County Legislator

Kris currently volunteers as a youth soccer coach and has served as an officer in a local Cub Scout pack.

Kris currently volunteers as a youth soccer coach and has served as an officer in a local Cub Scout pack. In the past, he has also served on the Red Hook Pool Board and worked with the Red Hook Bicentennial Committee, among other activities.

Kristofer Munn volunteers as a youth soccer coach and has served as an officer in a local Cub Scout pack. He has also served on the Red Hook Pool Board and worked with the Red Hook Bicentennial Committee. He has five children.

District 20 covers portions of the towns of Rhinebeck and Red Hook, including the village of Tivoli and the village of Red Hook.

An employee of Penguin Random House, Munn is a 22-year Red Hook resident. Among his priorities for reelection were mental health funding, expanded public transit service, regionalized emergency services, and lower sales and property taxes.

Election 2026: Dutchess legislator Munn unopposed in District 20

Kristofer Munn is an employee of Penguin Random House.

Election 2026: Dutchess Legislator Munn unopposed in District 20

Kristofer Munn (D)
District 20 (Map)
Representing the people in the Town of Red Hook, Tivoli, and Rhinebeck
Assistant Majority Leader
Ex Officio on all Legislative Committees
Merit Award Board, Member

Dutchess County Legislature District 20

Kris Munn has been working to make Red Hook and Tivoli a better place for nearly two decades and was elected to the Dutchess County Legislature on November 7, 2017.

Munn, who will run under the Democratic and Working Families banners, is seeking a sixth, two-year term in office.

He won a fifth term in office in 2025 after defeating challenger Mark Maroney, who ran on the Republican and Conservative party lines. County legislators serve two-year terms. However, due to a change in state law last year that requires most local elections to take place in even years, current legislators are only serving a one-year term.

Kris currently serves as a Dutchess County legislator for District 20, representing Red Hook, Tivoli, and Rhinebeck. He was elected to the Dutchess County Legislature in 2017 and won a fifth term in 2025.

Kristofer Munn (D) - Dutchess County Government

I was one of the early members of the Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess (TREND), part of a state-wide coalition of groups that have pushed to cap local property taxes with a income-based “circuit breaker” to help our seniors and those on a fixed income, and people who run into tough times, from being impoverished by local property taxes. While our current, so-called “2% tax cap” is a start, a real cap would reduce our taxes, not just make them rise a little slower.

Issues | Kristofer Munn for County Legislator

Kris was one of the early members of the Tax Reform Effort of Northern Dutchess (TREND), part of a state-wide coalition of groups that have pushed to cap local property taxes with an income-based “circuit breaker” to help our seniors and those on a fixed income, and people who run into tough times, from being impoverished by local property taxes. While our current, so-called “2% tax cap” is a start, a real cap would reduce our taxes, not just make them rise a little slower.

Quick update from last night’s Dutchess County budget meeting:

• We kept the sales tax exemption on clothes & shoes under $110
• We doubled the Housing Trust Fund from $1M to $2M
• We increased funding for Rev250 programs celebrating the 250th anniversary of 1776

Budget Breakdown: Tax Exemption Saved, Housing Boosted

Excited to stand with 1199SEIU and Northwell workers today at Northern Dutchess Hospital. These workers keep our community healthy, and they deserve a fair contract.

Union strong!

Standing with 1199SEIU and Northwell Workers

Advocates for an income-based property-tax circuit breaker to assist seniors, people on fixed incomes, and residents facing financial hardship.

Helped retain the sales-tax exemption for clothing and shoes costing under $110.

Supports Northwell hospital workers in obtaining a fair contract.

- Advocates for an income-based property-tax circuit breaker to assist seniors, people on fixed incomes, and residents facing financial hardship.
- Helped retain the sales-tax exemption for clothing and shoes costing under $110.
- Supports Northwell hospital workers in obtaining a fair contract.

Economy

Fiscal

LED THE FIGHT to block a sales tax hike
REDUCED county property tax rate every year
ACHIEVED Climate Smart Certification brings in millions in grants and funding to support programs and pay for services
SUPPORTED funding for rec park renovations in Red Hook and the new water system in Tivoli

Results | Kristofer Munn for County Legislator

Supported funding for renovations to Red Hook's recreation park and Tivoli's new water system.

- Supported funding for renovations to Red Hook's recreation park and Tivoli's new water system.

Public Services

What our small businesses need most is more customers. We get more customers by allowing more people to live within walking distance of our village centers. The new sewer system in the Village of Red Hook will increase housing density. More housing units will mean the rent increases will be slower.

Homeless grant passes

Budget time is over, and my homeless grant proposal was incorporated into the budget. Thank you to everyone who wrote in support – it was a huge help. We’re working hard, preparing for our new Democratic majority starting next month!

Homeless Grant Passes

However, I am not in favor of using eminent domain to make the Boat Club a public park. The town should reach out and seek a public-private partnership.

Boat Club & Eminent Domain | Kristofer Munn for County Legislator

Supports increasing housing near village centers and expanding Red Hook sewer capacity to increase density and slow rent increases.

Helped double the Housing Trust Fund from $1 million to $2 million.

Proposed a grant program for people experiencing homelessness that was incorporated into the county budget.

Opposes using eminent domain to convert the Boat Club into a public park and calls for a public-private partnership.

- Supports increasing housing near village centers and expanding Red Hook sewer capacity to increase density and slow rent increases.
- Helped double the Housing Trust Fund from $1 million to $2 million.
- Proposed a grant program for people experiencing homelessness that was incorporated into the county budget.
- Opposes using eminent domain to convert the Boat Club into a public park and calls for a public-private partnership.

Housing & Urban Development

The abuse of heroin, opioids and other drugs have spread into our communities, a poison and a plague on our community and families. While we cannot force anyone into treatment we need to make sure we expand the opportunities for those facing addiction problems to seek treatment whenever they need it. Our justice system needs to be a partner in this – incarceration for non-violent addicts is not the answer and is only a drain on taxpayer resources that could be used to fight this epidemic.

On April 13, 2026, the Dutchess County Legislature passed my resolution in support of the New York State Mandating End of Lawless Tactics (MELT) Act (S.8462/A.8908), which would require all law enforcement officers operating in New York State, including federal immigration agents, to wear clearly visible uniforms, display a name or badge number, and uncover their faces during any public interaction with members of the community.

Dutchess County Legislature Passes Resolution Supporting NYS MELT Act Requiring Law Enforcement to Identify Themselves During Public Interactions

To be clear about the scope of this legislation: the MELT Act applies to public law enforcement actions, any moment when government power is being exercised openly against a member of the public, and does not apply to undercover operations. It is a straightforward accountability measure rooted in a foundational democratic principle: when the government acts against the people in public, the people have the right to know who is acting in their name.

Safety

FUNDED $2M pilot project in 2025 to reduce ambulance response times
FUNDED construction of a new emergency services and training center
SUPPORTED law requiring every pharmacy to have a prescription drug take-back box, paid for by the drug companies
SUPPORTED change to help solve understaffing problem and reduce costly mandatory overtime at our county jail and save taxpayers money

Safety

FUNDED $2M pilot project in 2025 to reduce ambulance response times
FUNDED construction of a new emergency services and training center
SUPPORTED law requiring every pharmacy to have a prescription drug take-back box, paid for by the drug companies
SUPPORTED change to help solve understaffing problem and reduce costly mandatory overtime at our county jail and save taxpayers money
PASSED increased funding for educational services about opioid addiction and mental health services
PASSED expansion of the Domestic Abuse Response Team to help county-wide

Advocates for expanding access to voluntary addiction treatment and opposes incarcerating nonviolent people with addiction.

Sponsored a resolution supporting the MELT Act, which would require law-enforcement officers to identify themselves and uncover their faces.

Funded a $2 million pilot project to reduce ambulance response times.

Supported requiring pharmacies to provide prescription-drug take-back boxes funded by drug companies.

Passed an increase in funding for opioid-addiction education and mental-health services.

Passed a countywide expansion of the Domestic Abuse Response Team.

- Advocates for expanding access to voluntary addiction treatment and opposes incarcerating nonviolent people with addiction.
- Sponsored a resolution supporting the MELT Act, which would require law-enforcement officers to identify themselves and uncover their faces.
- Funded a $2 million pilot project to reduce ambulance response times.
- Supported requiring pharmacies to provide prescription-drug take-back boxes funded by drug companies.
- Passed an increase in funding for opioid-addiction education and mental-health services.
- Passed a countywide expansion of the Domestic Abuse Response Team.

Public Safety

Helped save the county bus line for working families.

Together, we:

Saved our county bus line for working families
Expanded mental health services in northwest Dutchess
Continued funding to cut ambulance response times
Doubled the housing trust fund to $2 million
Passed a homeless grant program for local communities
Voted 20-0 against the Chester federal immigration detention facility
Introduced a resolution to support the MELT Act to hold federal agents accountable

Fighting for Dutchess County and Winning

Transportation & Infrastructure

As our county legislator, I continue to protect our farms, expand opportunities for farmers and preserve our open space. Despite our love for our programs, that love is not universal and there are groups that would still like to chop up our farms into development. We must remain vigilant and ensure we don’t lose what we’ve already achieved.

Economy / Environment

SAVED the county loop bus when the administration announced it would be canceled north of Rhinebeck by helping organize against it
LAUNCHED Green Business Partnership certification program in cooperation with Sustainable Hudson Valley
PASSED bipartisan bill to ban plastic shopping bags starting in 2020 (later superceded by state law)

Advocates for protecting farms, expanding opportunities for farmers, and preserving open space.

Achieved Climate Smart Certification to obtain grant funding for county programs and services.

Launched a Green Business Partnership certification program with Sustainable Hudson Valley.

- Advocates for protecting farms, expanding opportunities for farmers, and preserving open space.
- Achieved Climate Smart Certification to obtain grant funding for county programs and services.
- Launched a Green Business Partnership certification program with Sustainable Hudson Valley.