Steve Neuhaus

Steven M. Neuhaus (born November 15, 1973) is the current County Executive^[1] of Orange County, New York. He previously served as the Town Supervisor of Chester, New York elected in 2007 until 2013.^[2]

Education

A Monroe-Woodbury graduate who took courses at SUNY Orange simultaneously during his high school years, Neuhaus received a BA from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York and a master's degree from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.^[3]

Early life

After receiving his M.P.A., and prior to his election as Chester Town Supervisor, Neuhaus gained valuable management experience in both the public and private sector in the City Manager’s Office in Newburgh in the Village Manager’s Officer for the Village of Walden, and received valuable business experience as the Vice President of Special Projects for Taylor Recycling in Montgomery. A licensed insurance agent and broker, Neuhaus also attended and successfully completed training at Lean Six Sigma, one of the leading corporate and government efficiency programs which teach real-world business experience from international experts in the field.

Military service

After 9/11, Steve signed up to serve in the military, and enlisted in the Army Guard and later joined the United States Navy Reserve. Currently, Neuhaus is an Officer in the Navy Reserve^[4] and assigned to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. Neuhaus is a supporter of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight,^[5] where he was a guardian for the first flight to bring World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the new memorial created in their honor. Neuhaus is a founding board member and former chairman of the Families of War Veterans Committee which supports veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.^[6]

Chester government

In 2004, Neuhaus became a Chester, New York Councilman, a position that lasted until 2007. He then ran a successful bid^[7] for Chester Town Supervisor, an office he held from 2008 until his election to County Executive. During his tenure as Town Supervisor, Neuhaus pushed for economic development. Also during his time he held the line on property taxes for Chester residents.

County Executive race

Neuhaus announced his candidacy for County Executive on November 17, 2012^[8] along with Warwick, New York Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton in a Republican Party primary. Sweeton later withdrew from the race^[9] allowing Neuhaus to secure the Republican Party line. Neuhaus also had the support of both the Conservative and Independence Party lines.

His opponent in the election was Orange County Legislator Roxanne Donnery who held the Democrat and the temporary Had Enough party lines. Neuhaus won the election with 55% of the vote,^[10] focusing his campaign on economic development, the county's long shut down government center, the county owned nursing home, and fixing the county's burgeoning budget crisis.^[11]

County Executive

When elected, Neuhaus was the youngest County Executive in the county's history.^[12]

Family

The son of German immigrants,^[7] Neuhaus and his two sisters were raised on a working farm. His father is a dentist on New York State Route 17M in Chester, New York. Neuhaus and his wife Rachel live with their family in Chester.^[3]

References