Warwick Youth in Government club meets Chester supervisor

Chester Town Supervisor Brandon Holdridge taught members of the Warwick Valley High School Youth in Government club a little about how to enter the world of holding political office. Internships and involvement in government at any level, even while in school, will help students work their way up through the ranks.

The 26-year-old who just finished his first year as town supervisor brought his experiences to the room, sparking ideas for members of the club in their coming years. The visit was also a way for club members to meet real-world office holders, said club co-advisors and social studies teachers Jereme Safier and Kevan Ottochian. Everyone knows it’s good to have connections. And, they want to create life-long learners, an attribute of the district’s Portrait of a Graduate.

Mr. Holdridge majored in political science and minored in economics and history at SUNY Albany. He was a town councilman in Chester for two years prior to winning election and becoming town supervisor last January. In college, he was a legislative assistant for former Senator Jose Peralta’s Albany office and served on the University at Albany Student Association, before rising to the position of chairman of the senate within the organization.

He has also served in various supporting capacities in government and politics since his graduation in 2019 and before he was voted in as a Chester council member in 2021, handling what he called “a range of things, including mostly constituent issues and legislative issues.”

He was a constituent services specialist for Sen. James Skoufis, a constituent advocate for former U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney, a district representative for former New York State Senator David Carlucci and a campaign organizer for the Ulster County Democratic Coordinated Campaign.

Students peppered Mr. Holdridge with questions from what his internships were like to what his goals are personally for his future and if he would do this all over again.

“I love political science,” he said. “To be very frank with you guys, politics isn’t like unless you’re a lobbyist or some special interest group or you get really get up high into politics, it’s not like a life of luxury and everything. The salaries that come from government jobs aren’t the greatest thing. But, you know, you get excellent health care and benefits.”

He said, however, he would definitely follow the same path and that he enjoys leading the Town of Chester and helping families.

“I know I have 12,000 residents that voted me in. A majority of them voted me in,” Mr. Holdridge said. “I know they’re depending on me and they’re putting their trust in me. I think that’s very important. Public service is very important to me.”

He sees his most critical projects as getting a full-time ambulance in town to reduce the 17-1/2 minute average response time as well as creating paved sidewalks for Sugar Loaf to create easier access.