Russell was part of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s original steering committee and became a founding board member in 2010 when the Alliance became its own nonprofit. He served for nine years on the board, supporting the organization’s growth through several stages until reaching term limits in 2019.

Watershed WaveMaker: Russell Urban-Mead

Russell organized monthly speakers for this program as a volunteer for 15 years – 12 years in-person and three years virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Russell’s vision of sharing science-based information and regularly convening partners in casual conversation continues with the Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s programming, including our Breakfast Webinars.

Russell Urban-Mead was a founding board member of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance and served on its board for nine years. He also organized monthly speakers for one of the alliance's programs as a volunteer for 15 years.

Experience:
- Senior Hydrogeologist, LaBella Associates (2025 to now)
- Hydrogeology Group Manager, LaBella Associates (2022 to 2025)
- Vice President, Environmental Services, The Chazen Companies (2011 to 2022)

Russell Urban-Mead

Russell currently works as a senior hydrogeologist at LaBella Associates. He previously served as hydrogeology group manager at LaBella Associates and vice president of environmental services at The Chazen Companies.

Russell Urban-Mead - Hyde Park Town Supervisor - Sway

Hyde Park Ward 001  6 of 6 (100%) machines reporting (6 total districts)
Hyde Park Councilman Ward 1 Vote for 1
RUSSELL URBAN-MEAD 653
ELAINE L. DROPAUER 480

General Election Accumulated Results (Dutchess County Board of Elections)

Russell previously served as a Hyde Park councilman for Ward 1.

2026 New York General Election

Prioritizes providing services to residents and businesses while minimizing the local tax burden per resident.

Urban-Mead: My top priority is simply to provide the best services to residents and businesses for the least local tax burden per resident. I will bring my private-sector project management experience to review existing contracts. I will also look to increase revenue by both more effectively applying for town grants and increasing total tax revenue by making sure that the town receives its fair share of taxes from new residential projects which are part of Hyde Park's future.

Hyde Park supervisor candidates discuss taxes, housing and growth

Plans to seek more town grants and collect Hyde Park’s share of taxes from new residential projects.

As of October 26, 2026, Russell Urban-Mead did not have a website.

Economy

Plans to resume town board workshops and hold at least two board meetings each month that are open to public observation.

Urban-Mead: My commitment to improving trust in local government is simple: resume workshop meetings, resume timely financial reporting, hold no unannounced or private meetings of the full board and engage in civil communication. We will return to a minimum of two town board meetings per month so the public can observe us discussing the town’s business.

Plans to post required annual financial reports on time and complete annual audits.

We will return to a minimum of two town board meetings per month so the public can observe us discussing the town’s business. We will resume posting timely and legally required annual financial reports and will complete annual audits, so Hyde Park residents understand our financial position, and so we can regain a Moody’s rating.

Public Services

Welcomes development and growth consistent with Hyde Park’s comprehensive plan and zoning.

Urban-Mead: I welcome development and growth in Hyde Park consistent with our comprehensive plan and zoning. Our population has been largely unchanged for decades. But we are now poised for growth as several sizable residential projects move from permitting into construction. As our population grows, Hyde Park’s Route 9 and 9G commercial corridors should see new customers and growth.

Calls for updating Hyde Park’s comprehensive plan to reflect current workforce and affordable-housing needs.

Our Comprehensive Plan predates current work-from-home practices and the global shift to online shopping. Nor does it reflect current workforce and affordable housing needs or energy trends. So, updating our comprehensive plan will help us. My consulting work over the past 30 years will also help, since I have worked with municipalities, private developers and state agencies on a wide range of projects, bringing experience and relationships.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Calls for an affordable Route 9 sewer system.

Urban-Mead: No community has only three issues to tackle. Hyde Park needs an updated comprehensive plan, an affordable Route 9 sewer system, support for the 9G business corridor, and we have increasingly frequent flooding and power outage events. We have pending and welcome development projects but each clamors for tax breaks. And we all love our parks, trails, historical landmarks and many delightful neighborhoods.

Plans to complete or substantially advance long-planned improvements to town water systems.

Urban-Mead: We will have re-established regular town board workshops, our town website will once again post our annual financial reports and audits, several long-planned improvements to water systems will be complete or well advanced, and we will have an updated Comprehensive Plan. Most importantly, we should have a measure of trust and confidence that Hyde Park is going in a good direction and that the town board is part of that trust and discussion.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

- Prioritizes providing services to residents and businesses while minimizing the local tax burden per resident.
- Plans to review existing town contracts.
- Plans to seek more town grants and collect Hyde Park’s share of taxes from new residential projects.

- Plans to resume town board workshops and hold at least two board meetings each month that are open to public observation.
- Plans to post required annual financial reports on time and complete annual audits.

- Welcomes development and growth consistent with Hyde Park’s comprehensive plan and zoning.
- Calls for updating Hyde Park’s comprehensive plan to reflect current workforce and affordable-housing needs.

As of October 26, 2026, Russell Urban-Mead’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Calls for an affordable Route 9 sewer system.
- Plans to complete or substantially advance long-planned improvements to town water systems.