The candidate profile states: “Born and raised in Virginia, Rebecca has lived in the Town of Poughkeepsie for 30 years and raised her son here (Arlington schools). A retired history educator and former county legislator, Rebecca lives in Ward 6 with her rescue pup Bella.”

Rebecca Edwards

Rebecca Edwards, Town Supervisor - We Are TOPK

The article reports: “Edwards has been teaching at Vassar College since 1995 and plans to take a leave of absence to fulfill her new role.”

History professor Rebecca Edwards takes on new role as Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor

History professor takes on new role as Poughkeepsie town supervisor

Rebecca has experience as a professor at Vassar College.

The Town of Poughkeepsie employee directory lists: “Rebecca Edwards / Supervisor.”

Employee Directory — Rebecca Edwards

The Vassar article reports: “While teaching at Vassar full time, Edwards ran a successful campaign for a seat in the Dutchess County Legislature in the fall of 2017 and served two two-year terms, the second as minority leader.”

Candidates with Vassar ties win important seats in local elections

Rebecca currently serves as Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor. She previously won a seat in the Dutchess County Legislature in 2017 and served two terms of two years each.

Supervisor | Poughkeepsie Town, NY

Rebecca Edwards , PhD - Vassar College

2026 New York General Election

In a questionnaire response on housing, economic development, and growth, Edwards wrote: “While I'm delighted that IBM's quantum manufacturing initiative will bring 200 high-quality jobs (and keep about 2,500 current ones here), renewing the Town's position as a tech hub, I don't believe Poughkeepsie should put all its economic eggs in that basket or any other basket. We need a diverse economy that enables a variety of entrepreneurs and local small businesses to thrive.”

Get to know your candidates for Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor

As of October 26, 2026, Rebecca Edwards did not have a website or any information online.

Economy

Public Services

In response to a question asking for the community's biggest issues and top priority, Edwards wrote: “Edwards: Lack of affordability is our biggest problem. Creating affordable housing is my top priority. This year we passed a law requiring all builders of 10 or more new rental units in the town to set aside one out of every 10 units for affordable or workforce housing. We also passed a Good Cause Eviction law to protect tenants and are working with Habitat for Humanity on a 55-unit affordable home-ownership initiative. There's much more to be done.”

Said that affordable housing is her top priority and the town passed a law requiring affordable or workforce units in larger rental developments.

- Said that affordable housing is her top priority and the town passed a law requiring affordable or workforce units in larger rental developments.

Housing & Urban Development

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

Instagram

Facebook

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

Speaking before the Good Cause Eviction vote, Edwards said: “Where we have affordable housing, we must try to preserve it,” and “when someone wants to come up and buy an older building and jack up the rents by 50 percent or 100 percent, that’s detrimental to the folks here who are struggling to find affordable housing.”

Poughkeepsie Town Board opts into Good Cause Eviction

In a questionnaire response on housing, economic development, and growth, Edwards wrote: “We need a diverse economy that enables a variety of entrepreneurs and local small businesses to thrive. For housing, we need to meet the needs of all ages and income groups: young singles, families, empty-nesters and those needing supportive or transitional housing.”

- Said that affordable housing is her top priority and the town passed a law requiring affordable or workforce units in larger rental developments.
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Works to protect property taxpayers by building new revenue sources and increasing efficiency.

Works to protect and expand town parks, green spaces, walking trails, and wildlife preserves.

Works to expand free and low-cost recreation programs for residents of all ages.

Works to expand affordable housing options to address the housing crisis.

Born and raised in Virginia, Rebecca has lived in the Town of Poughkeepsie for 30 years and raised her son here (Arlington schools). A retired history educator and former county legislator, Rebecca lives in Ward 6 with her rescue pup Bella.

Rebecca Edwards, Town Supervisor — We Are TOPK

Rebecca Edwards was born and raised in Virginia. She raised her son, who attended Arlington schools.

Rebecca Edwards, a Democrat, unseated six-year Republican incumbent Jay Baisley by 77 votes with a count of 4,808 to 4,731, according to the Dutchess County Board of Elections certified voting results.

Edwards has been teaching at Vassar College since 1995 and plans to take a leave of absence to fulfill her new role. She was also on the county legislature for four years taking on issues such as criminal justice, opioids and sexual assault, and she co-founded the Dutchess-Poughkeepsie Land Bank.

Rebecca Edwards is a retired history educator who taught at Vassar College.

Rebecca was elected Poughkeepsie Town Supervisor after defeating the incumbent. She previously served in the county legislature for four years.

As Town Supervisor, worked to protect property taxpayers by building new revenue sources and increasing efficiency.

Wants to make town decisions open and transparent and improve resident communication through mailings, a mobile application, and changes to meetings.

As Town Supervisor, worked to expand free and low-cost recreation programs for residents of all ages.

As Town Supervisor, worked to expand affordable housing options, calling affordable housing a top priority.

As Town Supervisor, worked to pass tenant protections, including a Good Cause Eviction law.

As Town Supervisor, worked to develop a cost-effective plan to relocate the town police and courts.

As Town Supervisor, worked to protect and expand parks, green spaces, walking trails, and wildlife preserves.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

In discussing success benchmarks, Edwards wrote: “Over time, through park improvements, new street safety equipment and walking and biking trails, and projects such as revitalization of the former landfill area around Dutchess Plaza on Route 44, I hope we will all be able to see the successes that are unfolding in our neighborhoods and across the Town.”