Town of Wallkill Republican Supervisor George Serrano announced his reelection bid on April 17.
Surrounded by supporters at a campaign kickoff, Serrano highlighted his work in the past 16 months and looked forward to campaigning for another two-year term.
He said he was honored to host the town’s 250th anniversary and be part of the years-long celebration with memorable events and activities in 2022.
“It was inspiring to be among the pillars of the community who have shaped and helped this town over the years,” Serrano said.
He also made it a practice to recognize community members at the monthly town hall meetings, including small businesses, community leaders, volunteers, working families, and students.
“My team and I will continue to recognize and acknowledge those in our community who go above and beyond to unselfishly contribute to a better Wallkill,” he said.
Striving for a more inclusive community, he hosted the town’s first Kwanzaa celebration last year.
Serrano also highlighted state funding secured during his term, including a grant of $175,000 to complete the town’s Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall.
The grant was awarded in October 2022 with the help of New York state Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and state Sen. James Skoufis.
He cited new town projects such as pickleball courts, more accessible playgrounds, and a communication system to notify residents of emergencies and news.
While touting the growing tourism, Serrano noted his efforts to check unsustainable growth.
In November 2022, the town board approved a six-month moratorium on warehouses to make time for a whole-picture analysis of the zoning map.
Another program aimed at preserving irreplaceable land resources is also in planning, he said.
“[Wallkill] is not only a place where I have raised my kids and reside with my family and call home, but it is a historic and vibrant community in which we can discover, work, explore, play, shop, relax, travel, and retire,” Serrano said.
Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta, county legislators Robert Sassi and Janet Sutherland, and Town of Crawford Supervisor Charles Carnes attended the campaign kickoff and pledged support for Serrano.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Serrano worked as a police officer and detective in White Plains for more than 25 years before being elected Wallkill supervisor in 2021.
Since he came on board, the police department has added two budgeted positions, hired seven new officers, and restarted the police academy, according to a previous interview with The Epoch Times.
In 2022, the town saw a historic number of homicides—four—but all cases were solved within months.
Aside from public safety, town finances were central to the most recent election.
The New York State Comptroller’s Office is also expected to issue a report about an aspect of town financial practices later this year.
“If something has been done incorrectly, tell me what I can do better to help the town move forward because it is taxpayers’ money, not my money,” Serrano said in a previous interview with The Epoch Times.
