Orange County Clerk Candidate Interviews:

SUGAR LOAF NY:  With elections just around the corner, candidates for this season’s one race for countywide office answered questions on topics ranging from Department of Motor Vehicles’ bad reputation, to state mandates and pandemic-prompted changes.

The candidates – Ms. Kelly Eskew and Mr. Anthony Grice – also shared personal values, their proudest accomplishments and their “superpowers.”

Ms. Eskew, currently Deputy County Clerk and a town council member for the Town of Crawford, said she has the ability to see the positive in any situation.

Mr. Grice, an elementary school teacher and member of the Newburgh City Council, said he’s known as “Book Man” with his three sons, inspired by his love of reading.

“We are pleased to provide voters with this opportunity to “meet” the candidates in a candid interview,” said Vision Hudson Valley executive director Sharon Soons. “We hope the range of questions will help viewers get a better sense of each candidate as a fellow resident, especially with a ‘one take’ and uncut video like this one.” 

The two candidates agreed that while civic engagement has seen an uptick in recent years, there’s great potential for more residents to volunteer with community programs and get involved in local government.

Both candidates also supported a “mobile DMV” program, to bring the department’s services directly to communities. Both praised the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, aka the Green Light Law, for its goal to improve public safety by allowing all residents to apply for a license, while also pointing out problems with its implementation.

Vision Hudson Valley encourages voters to view each video on the VHV Facebook page (you tube to be posted soon) and to cast their vote in this year’s elections on 11/2/2021.

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The interviews were planned by Vision Hudson Valley and completed October 25 at the Seligmann Studio in Sugar Loaf, New York. Special thanks to EC Media for their audio-video expertise, especially on short notice. Vision Hudson Valley (formerly known as the Orange County Citizens Foundation) is a non-partisan, non-profit membership organization working to preserve and enhance the quality of life for all in Orange County and the Hudson Valley. VHV also manages the Seligmann Homestead, named for surrealist artist Kurt Seligmann and his wife Arlette who made their home here.