POUGHKEEPSIE – Last Thursday, the Democratic legislators on the Budget and Finance Committee voted against appointing County Executive Sue Serino’s choice as Commissioner of Human Resources. The Republicans on the committee voted to confirm Serino’s former Deputy County Executive, Rachel Kashimer, as the new Human Resources Commissioner.
, saying, “We believe this appointment requires further discussion and we are asking that questions be answered by the county executive.” The Democrats want Serino to produce the results of the ethics committee probe into the matter before the full legislature votes on the appointment on Monday, December 8, 2025.
Serino indicated that the Democrats did not raise the issue with her during the leadership meeting prior to Thursday’s committee meeting.
The questions posed by the Democrats go back to earlier this year when it was learned that Kashimer, who was Deputy County Executive at the time, had used her county email address to send more than 100 emails to individuals to solicit donations for the annual , a non-profit where Kashimer serves as a member of the board. The non-partisan event is typically attended by members of all major political parties.
When the emails were brought to light through FOIL requests, Serino referred the matter to the Dutchess County Ethics Committee, which held a hearing on the matter in September. A source told Mid-Hudson News that another individual had filed a complaint with the ethics committee over Kashimer’s emails.
An anonymous complaint about Kashimer’s emails on behalf of the prayer breakfast was sent to the County Board of Ethics. The ethics board discussed the complaint at the November 7, 2025 meeting and ruled the following: “After a discussion, a motion was made by Peter Forman, seconded by Rex Bridges to adopt a resolution dismissing the anonymous complaint following a determination that the complaint, on its’ face, did not allege a violation of the Code of Ethics.”
Serino said, “Rachel Kashimer is a dedicated, qualified employee who will serve our County well as our next Human Resources Commissioner. The appointment process has been open and transparent with multiple opportunities for questions and discussion, including when we raised the appointment during our leadership meeting with the Minority Leaders. I look forward to Rachel’s confirmation by the full Legislature Board on Monday evening.”
The full legislature will vote on Kashimer’s confirmation tonight at the 6:30 p.m. board meeting at 22 Market Street in Poughkeepsie.
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