Michael Sweeton bows out of campaign for Orange County Executive

WARWICK — On Thursday, June 6, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton announced that he had ended his campaign for Orange County Executive.

The contest for that office, currently held by Republican Ed Diana, is now between Town of Chester Supervisor Steve Neuhaus, a Republican, and Democrat Roxanne Donnery, a county legislator from Highland Falls.

This past April, Diana announced he would not run for re-election for health reasons.

Although Sweeton had the experience, funding and qualifications to run for the office, Neuhaus recently received the important endorsement of the Orange County Republican Party.

‘Open, honest government’
“After careful consideration as well as consultation with my family and close supporters,” said Sweeton,“I have decided to end my run for the Office of County Executive. I am, however, not ending my efforts to restore open and honest government to Orange county. I have laid out a clear and specific platform to address the serious issues facing our county and I will carefully evaluate how the remaining candidates stand on these issues. I will continue to speak out against closed-door government and insider politics on the town, county and state levels. The people of Orange County deserve nothing less.”

Partisan politics remain
Sweeton vowed that he intended to stay engaged in following this race.

“Clearly Valley View and the government center are huge,” he said, “but so is how we will create jobs that are not just warehouse jobs but how well we grow small businesses that can create higher wage jobs.”

Sweeton stressed the importance of growing the county’s transportation system to facilitate work force concentrations in areas where there are industrial parks.

“When and if we are successful in creating jobs,” he asked, “where do the young people who we hope to attract to our county live? Where will the affordable housing options be and how do we facilitate their development?”

Sweeton also expressed concern over how officials move forward on any issue without returning to partisan politics.

“I will use whatever resources I have at my disposal,” Sweeton said, “to ensure that the voters of Orange County have that opportunity.”

- Roger Gavan