2026 New York General Election

Paul J. Rickard Jr.

“I was thrust into being a leader—that’s a leadership position that you just had to accept,” he said.

He studied political science at Orange County Community College and became a police officer at Middletown Police Department in the 1980s.

Leadership Experience

Former Mount Hope Police Chief Paul Rickard Runs for Town Supervisor

Paul J. Rickard Jr. studied political science at Orange County Community College.

Former Mount Hope Police Chief Paul Rickard Runs for Town Supervisor | The Epoch Times

Leadership Experience

Over his 20 years at the department, he rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

In 2010, he became Mount Hope police chief. He set out over the next decade to make the department a more professional operation, from hiring, training, and policy to infrastructure and technology.

Paul J. Rickard Jr. served as Mount Hope police chief and previously worked as a police officer at the Middletown Police Department.

Supports small-scale commercial growth that fits Mount Hope's community character and opposes large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular office hours at town hall to be accessible to residents.

Supports single-family zoning and preserving Mount Hope's small-town character.

As of October 22, 2026, Paul J. Rickard Jr.’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes replacing farms with housing developments and calls for preserving the town's agricultural heritage.

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He studied political science at Orange County Community College and became a police officer at Middletown Police Department in the 1980s.
Leadership Experience

Early this year, Rickard retired from policing and became the director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that works with law enforcement agencies in the Hudson Valley to connect people suffering from addictions with help.

“Everything I do, I lead,” Rickard said. “I think a lot of people in the community have faith in me because they know my family, and they know my leadership.”

Over his 20 years at the department, he rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

In 2010, he became Mount Hope police chief. He set out over the next decade to make the department a more professional operation, from hiring, training, and policy to infrastructure and technology.

Leadership Experience

Over his 20 years at the department, he rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

In 2010, he became Mount Hope police chief.

Paul retired from policing and became director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that works with Hudson Valley law enforcement agencies to connect people experiencing addiction with help. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief and held roles including sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations during his 20 years at the department.

TOWN OFFICE TERM ELECTED OFFICIAL ELECTED EXPIRES
Mount Hope Supervisor 2 yrs Paul J Rickard Jr 11/4/2025 2026
Mount Hope Town Clerk 2 yrs Heidi Phillips 11/4/2025 2026
Mount Hope Town Justice 4 yrs Joe Hosking 11/4/2025 2029

Orange County Board of Elections - 2026 Town/City/Village Elected Officials with new terms of office

Paul currently serves as Mount Hope Town Supervisor. He was elected on November 4, 2025, and is serving a two-year term.

Orange County Board of Elections — 2026 Town/City/Village Elected Officials with new terms of office (PDF)

Supports commercial businesses that fit Mount Hope's character and opposes large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular office hours at Town Hall to be accessible to residents.

Advocates preserving agricultural land rather than converting farms to housing developments.

After serving a decade as the police chief of Mount Hope, Paul Rickard said he wants to apply his leadership skills to the town government to benefit his community.

He is challenging incumbent supervisor Matthew Howell in the June 27 Republican primary.

Paul J. Rickard Jr. became director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that connects people experiencing addiction with help through partnerships with Hudson Valley law enforcement agencies, after retiring from policing. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief.

TOWN OFFICE TERM ELECTED OFFICIAL ELECTED EXPIRES
Mount Hope Supervisor 2 yrs Paul J Rickard Jr 11/4/2025 2026
Mount Hope Town Clerk 2 yrs Heidi Phillips 11/4/2025 2029

Paul serves as Mount Hope town supervisor. He was elected in 2025 and is serving a two-year term.

Supports new small businesses that fit Mount Hope's community character and opposes large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular town-hall office hours to be accessible to residents.

Supports single-family zoning to preserve Mount Hope's small-town character.

Advocates for preserving farmland rather than converting it into housing developments.

He studied political science at Orange County Community College and became a police officer at Middletown Police Department in the 1980s.

Brittney then handed the floor to Paul Rickard, Director of Hope Not Handcuffs (HNH) and Chief Steven D’Agata from the Village of Liberty Police Department.

PAARI Hosts First New York Statewide Convening - PAARI

In 2010, he became Mount Hope police chief. He set out over the next decade to make the department a more professional operation, from hiring, training, and policy to infrastructure and technology.

Paul J. Rickard Jr. works as the director of Hope Not Handcuffs. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief and as a police officer at the Middletown Police Department.

Paul currently serves as Mount Hope Town Supervisor. He was elected in 2025 to a two-year term that expires in 2026.

Plans to keep Mount Hope's tax levy stable.

Supports small commercial businesses that fit Mount Hope's character and opposes large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular town hall office hours for Mount Hope residents.

Opposes replacing farms with housing developments and supports preserving Mount Hope's agricultural land.

Said he strives to treat policing and the community as interconnected.

Early this year, Rickard retired from policing and became the director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that works with law enforcement agencies in the Hudson Valley to connect people suffering from addictions with help.

Over his 20 years at the department, he rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

Paul J. Rickard Jr. became director of Hope Not Handcuffs after retiring from policing. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief and, over 20 years with a police department, held the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

## Board Member Information

Image: Paul J. Rickard

Town Supervisor

### Paul J. Rickard

Phone 845-386-2211
Email prickard@townofmounthope.org
Term Ends December 31, 2026
Office

The Town Supervisor serves as the chief elected official of the Town of Mount Hope and presides over meetings of the Town Board.

Town Board – Town of Mount Hope

Paul currently serves as Town Supervisor of Mount Hope.

Supports new businesses that fit Mount Hope's character, while opposing large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular office hours at town hall to be accessible to town residents.

Advocates for preserving agricultural land rather than replacing farms with housing developments.

He studied political science at Orange County Community College and became a police officer at Middletown Police Department in the 1980s.

Leadership Experience

Paul J. Rickard Jr. retired from policing and became the director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that works with Hudson Valley law enforcement agencies to connect people experiencing addiction to help. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief and, over 20 years at the department, held the positions of sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

Orange County Board of Elections
GE23 - Winners List
Office Description Candidate Name Elected Party

MOUNT HOPE-SUPERVISOR PAUL J RICKARD JR REPUBLICAN

Candidates-List---Winners-List--WEB--FINAL-v2 (Orange County Board of Elections)

Orange County Board of Elections - 2026 Town/City/Village Elected Officials with new terms of office (PDF)

Paul currently serves as Mount Hope town supervisor. He was elected in 2025 to a two-year term.

Supports new businesses that fit Mount Hope's community character, while opposing large factories and warehouses.

Wants to participate in county and regional government organizations to connect Mount Hope with additional resources.

Supports single-family zoning in Mount Hope.

Supports preserving agricultural land rather than converting farms into housing developments.

Paul previously worked as a police officer with the Middletown Police Department.

Supports small-scale commercial development that fits Mount Hope's community character and opposes large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular office hours at Town Hall to be accessible to Mount Hope residents.

Wants to work with county and regional government agencies to seek additional resources for the town.

Supports zoning for single-family homes and preserving Mount Hope's small-town character.

Supports preserving agricultural land rather than replacing farms with housing developments.

He studied political science at Orange County Community College and became a police officer at Middletown Police Department in the 1980s.
Leadership Experience
Over his 20 years at the department, he rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

In 2010, he became Mount Hope police chief. He set out over the next decade to make the department a more professional operation, from hiring, training, and policy to infrastructure and technology.

Early this year, Rickard retired from policing and became the director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that works with law enforcement agencies in the Hudson Valley to connect people suffering from addictions with help.

Paul became director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that connects people with addictions to help through Hudson Valley law enforcement agencies, after retiring from policing. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief and as a police officer with the Middletown Police Department.

TOWN OFFICE TERM ELECTED OFFICIAL ELECTED EXPIRES
Mount Hope Supervisor 2 yrs Paul J Rickard Jr 11/4/2025 2026
Mount Hope Town Clerk 2 yrs Heidi Phillips 11/4/2025 2026
Mount Hope Town Justice 4 yrs Joe Hosking 11/4/2025 2029

In Mount Hope, incumbent Supervisor Matthew Howell lost the Republican primary to Paul J. Rickard Jr, 248 to 124.

Paul was elected Mount Hope supervisor on November 4, 2025, for a two-year term.

Supports commercial growth that fits Mount Hope's character, while opposing large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular office hours at town hall to be accessible to Mount Hope residents.

Opposes replacing farms with housing developments and supports encouraging Mount Hope's agricultural heritage.

Said he strives to see police and the community as connected.

Mount Hope Supervisor 2 yrs Paul J Rickard Jr 11/4/2025 2026

Paul J. Rickard Jr. was elected Mount Hope supervisor in 2025 and is serving a two-year term.

Supports small commercial businesses that fit the community's character and opposes large factories and warehouses.

Plans to hold regular office hours to be accessible to town residents.

Said he strives to follow the principle that police and the community are interconnected.

Opposes converting farms into housing developments and advocates for preserving the town's agricultural heritage.

TOWN ATTORNEY
David Bavoso, Esq
Chief of Police
Paul J. Rickard

Mount Hope Police Reform and Reinvention Plan (March 2021)

Paul J. Rickard Jr. was Mount Hope's chief of police.

2025 Town/City/Village Elected Officials

Paul was elected Town Supervisor of Mount Hope in 2023. His two-year term expires in 2025.

Paul J. Rickard Jr. was elected as Mount Hope Town Supervisor on November 4, 2025, to a two-year term.

Buket Urgen

He studied political science at Orange County Community College and became a police officer at Middletown Police Department in the 1980s. Over his 20 years at the department, he rose through the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations.

Paul J. Rickard Jr. became director of Hope Not Handcuffs, a regional organization that works with Hudson Valley law enforcement agencies to connect people struggling with addiction to help, after retiring from policing. He previously served as Mount Hope police chief and held the roles of sergeant, lieutenant, and bureau commander of operations at the Middletown Police Department.

Rickard said he would be accessible to town residents by hosting regular office hours, enhancing government transparency through ethics reform, and keeping the tax levy stable while using his leadership skills in all facets of town operation.

Supports new small businesses that fit Mount Hope's character, while opposing large factories and warehouses.

In terms of commercial growth, he said he would love to see more new businesses, but they must match the character of Mount Hope. “If [a company] wants to open a four-room office here and pay ... taxes, I would be all for it. But do we want a big factory? No. Do we want a big warehouse? No. It’s got to fit in with the community,” he said.

Economy

Plans to hold regular office hours for Mount Hope residents.

Public Services

Supports zoning for single-family homes and maintaining Mount Hope's small-town character.

As to development, Rickard said he likes the small-town feel that Mount Hope offers and wants to keep it that way. “I support single-family zoning, and I think there is a charm to not having a traffic light in town. I think that brings people into our community because it is beautiful,” he said.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports preserving farmland and encouraging Mount Hope's agricultural heritage rather than replacing farms with housing developments.

He also supports preserving agricultural lands in town. “I think it would be a mistake to get rid of a farm to build a housing development. I think we need to encourage our agricultural heritage here,” he said.