December 22, 2006
INTO THE SUNSET
(Photo by Karl Rabe for The Poughkeepsie Journal)
Just yesterday I closed a piece about painter Christine Lafuente [see HUDSON RIVER SCHOOLED, 12/21/06] by writing that I suspected her mother was former Mayor of Poughkeepsie and my high school AP Government teacher Colette Lafuente. I've been informed that assumption was correct and just last week the outgoing County Clerk is retiring. Lafuente ran and was elected County Clerk three years ago after hitting the term limit wall for the number of times one can serve as the Mayor of Poughkeepsie. Now she is retiring to warmer pastures, taking time to travel and spend more time with her family; (her husband unfortunately was killed in 2001 at the World Trade Center).
Lafuente announced her retirement as Dutchess County clerk last month, and the party had been in the works ever since.
"It's not going to be the same," said Stephanie Shaw, a DMV worker. "Everyone's going to miss her."
Only last month Lafuente received Dutchess County's first Athena Award for her professional excellence and commitment to community service. Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, was a protector of her city.
Lafuente's career has run the Dutchess gamut, from school teacher, to legislator and mayor, and finally, to clerk.
"I should have come to the county clerk office sooner," she said.
Her replacement must be appointed by Gov. George Pataki before he leaves office. Whoever he picks, I don't envy them. He or she will have some impressive shoes to fill. I know I'm with Lafuente's staff and the residents of Poughkeepsie and surrounding towns in wishing her well on whatever she plans to do next.
Tagged:Posted by Lexiphane at December 22, 2006 9:55 PM
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