Barrington R Atkins
Democratic · NY · Dutchess County Legislator, District 9
Barrington Atkins is majority leader of the Dutchess County Legislature, representing the City of Poughkeepsie, and principal of Poughkeepsie Middle School. His priorities include fair county funding for the city's youth programs, housing, and public safety.
Where Barrington R Atkins stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Social Programs and Welfare (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (2 support · 5 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 support · 5 oppose
Sponsored and voted for the legislature's 2026 rules, which lowered the votes needed to spend county reserve and contingency money from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority. The rules passed 15-10.
February 9, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted to override the county executive's veto and restore funding for three District Attorney's office jobs, including two assistant district attorneys. The override passed 24-1.
December 17, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: dutchessny.gov
Moved to override the county executive's vetoes of a youth recovery coach job and $25,000 for the Path to Promise youth program, and voted to restore $20,000 for the Human Rights Commission. Each override failed 10-13.
December 18, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted to delay, and then against, spending $725,000 to design a temporary homeless shelter in the old county jail in Poughkeepsie. It passed 17-7.
June 12, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: dutchessny.gov
Moved a 2023 budget amendment that added $200,000 to the county planning department's competitive grant program. It passed 24-0.
December 8, 2022Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted against a 2023 budget amendment that moved $25 million from county reserves into the capital projects fund. It passed 17-6.
December 8, 2022Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted with 23 colleagues to spend an initial $10 million to demolish the former YMCA in Poughkeepsie and design a new youth center on the site.
July 12, 2021Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Voted to override the county executive's veto and restore funding for three District Attorney's office jobs, including two assistant district attorneys. The override passed 24-1.
December 17, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: dutchessny.gov
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 support
Moved to override the county executive's vetoes of a youth recovery coach job and $25,000 for the Path to Promise youth program, and voted to restore $20,000 for the Human Rights Commission. Each override failed 10-13.
December 18, 2023Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: dutchessny.gov
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Voted with 23 colleagues to spend an initial $10 million to demolish the former YMCA in Poughkeepsie and design a new youth center on the site.
July 12, 2021Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Track record — General
General · 14 records
Asked the Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee to postpone approval of the county-city settlement for the Oakley Street homeless shelter until September, saying he had more questions. The committee's Democrats voted to delay it, 11-4.
July 23, 2026
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Completed his first year as principal of Poughkeepsie Middle School, leading its eighth-grade recognition ceremony.
June 24, 2026
Source: poughkeepsieschools.org
Co-sponsored and voted for a cap on the county sales tax on gasoline and diesel, set at the tax due on a $3-per-gallon price from June 1 to November 30, 2026. It passed unanimously; the county estimated $460,000 in lost revenue.
April 13, 2026
Source: dutchessny.gov
Spoke for and voted for a resolution urging state lawmakers to pass the MELT Act (S.8462/A.8908), a bill requiring police and federal immigration agents in New York to wear visible identification. It passed 13-9.
April 13, 2026
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted against the county's 2026 budget, which passed 15-9.
December 8, 2025
Source: dutchessny.gov
Was chosen by the incoming Democratic majority as majority leader of the county legislature for 2026.
November 18, 2025
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Moved to delay, and then voted against, accepting a state homeless housing grant to pay for design and construction management at 26 Oakley Street in Poughkeepsie. It passed 14-10.
August 12, 2024
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted against spending federal American Rescue Plan money to buy the property at 26 Oakley Street in the City of Poughkeepsie. The purchase passed 16-8.
June 13, 2022
Source: dutchessny.gov
Was elected by the Democratic caucus as assistant minority leader of the county legislature for 2022-2023.
December 17, 2021
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Hosted a back-to-school supply giveaway for children in the City of Poughkeepsie, paid for by corporate and private donors.
August 29, 2021
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Voted against putting a county charter change on the ballot to cut the legislature from 25 to 21 seats. It passed 15-10, and voters rejected it in November 2021.
July 12, 2021
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Launched Project Color, a program he started to support teenage boys in Poughkeepsie in response to youth violence, holding its first event at the Family Partnership Center.
January 25, 2021
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Won a special election to finish the District 10 term, receiving 1,466 votes to 96 write-in votes.
November 3, 2020
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Was appointed by the Poughkeepsie Common Council to fill the District 10 county legislature seat left vacant by the death of Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson.
June 16, 2020
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Past race Barrington R Atkins ran in:
- Dutchess County Legislator, District 9 · November 3, 2026 · Dutchess County, New York · incumbent