TOWN OF NEWBURGH – A 2015 bankruptcy, a vehicle repossession, and a series of police reports involving domestic and family disputes are part of the public record surrounding Stephen Krasner, the Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for Town of Newburgh supervisor.
According to the Town of Newburgh Democratic Committee’s website, Krasner’s “campaign is built on four core values – integrity, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and inclusion – with one simple goal: to build a Town Hall that is open, honest, and truly working for every resident of Newburgh.”
“Running for public office means accepting that your background, record, and life experiences will be examined,” Krasner said in an email. “I understood that when I decided to run for Town Supervisor, and I believe candidates should be prepared to answer legitimate questions about themselves.”
Krasner explained that more than 10 years ago, he “went through an extraordinarily long and difficult divorce and custody dispute.”
“Like many prolonged family court matters, it involved accusations, disagreements, court filings, police reports, significant legal expenses and financial strain,” Krasner added. “I was fighting to remain an equal and meaningful presence in my child’s life, and the process took a tremendous financial and personal toll.”
“During that period, mounting legal fees, debt, and other expenses led me, on the advice I was receiving at the time, to file for bankruptcy,” Krasner continued. “I ultimately decided not to proceed down that path, received assistance from family, and withdrew the filing. It was a difficult financial period in my life, but one from which I learned a great deal.”
The Krasner records date back more than a decade and include allegations and complaints involving Krasner, his then-wife and members of her family. Krasner filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on Feb. 10, 2015, according to a public Federal Bankruptcy Court record.
The filing notice does not identify the amount of debt, creditors or assets, or the ultimate disposition of the case. The case was dismissed in June 2015.
In June 2024, Priority Recovery reported to Town of Newburgh police that it had repossessed a 2017 black Honda Pilot identified as belonging to Krasner at his residence, according to police records. Police confirmed that the owner was aware the vehicle was being repossessed.
“The vehicle was recovered the following day, and the matter was resolved,” Krasner said.
Town of Newburgh police records also document several domestic disputes involving Krasner and his then-spouse during their marriage and divorce proceedings.
In one 2012 incident, Krasner’s ex-wife allegedly contacted police regarding a custody dispute involving the couple’s daughter. According to the report, Krasner’s ex-wife told officers that he had sent her as many as 18 text messages asking her to return their daughter’s belongings.
She also told police that Krasner did not want her to stay at her parents’ home and said she wanted the matter documented. In another 2012 incident, police responded after the ex-wife became upset when Krasner told her he was filing for custody of their child, according to the report.
The ex-wife told police she asked Krasner to stop discussing the matter in front of their daughter and that he refused. Krasner told police that his ex-wife had not been herself for several months and that he had recommended counseling, according to the report.
Also in 2012, police responded to a 911 call involving a verbal dispute between Krasner and his father-in-law. The report states that the parties were separated and advised by police. Krasner told officers that his father-in-law had been provoking him, calling him names and taunting him.
In 2015, Krasner’s in-laws told police they were receiving what they described as numerous unwanted emails from him. According to the report, they had asked Krasner to stop contacting them. The report states that Krasner ignored that request.
The family also told police they planned to seek a stay-away order of protection from Krasner through Family Court.
A separate report in 2015 involved an allegation by Krasner’s mother-in-law that he had obtained access to financial information belonging to a foundation where she was CEO. She told police she believed Krasner was “hacking” emails and financial information. The report specifically states that she could not prove the allegations.
Police documented the complaint but stated that no crime could be articulated and that the matter should be pursued through the financial institution and civil channels.
Krasner previously ran unsuccessfully for Town of Newburgh supervisor in 2009 and 2011.
“None of this is something I am ashamed to discuss,” Krasner said. “These were difficult experiences in my life, and they shaped me. Families go through divorces. People experience financial hardship. Parents find themselves in painful disputes. What matters to me is how someone responds to those experiences, learns from them, and moves forward.”
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