Molly Rhodes
Democratic · NY · Dutchess County Legislator, District 18
Nonprofit operations professional who worked 10 years at Teach For America and served two terms on the Beacon City Council before joining the county legislature. Her priorities are affordable housing and county mental health, family, and emergency housing services.
Where Molly Rhodes stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (3 records), Government Efficiency (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record),
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 3 support
Voted on August 10, 2026, for a county law banning the sale of concentrated synthetic kratom products known as 7-OH. The Legislature passed it unanimously.
August 10, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: dutchessny.gov
Voted for a county law on May 11, 2026, that makes restaurants hand out plastic utensils and condiment packets only on request. It passed 24-0.
May 11, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Voted for Beacon's all-electric building law on March 20, 2023. It bans fossil-fuel systems in new buildings and major renovations. The council passed it 7-0.
March 20, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: beaconny.gov
Track record — Government Efficiency
Government Efficiency · 1 support
Co-sponsored a resolution creating a county committee to oversee government use of artificial intelligence. On May 11, 2026, she voted against delaying it, which failed 10-14, then for it, which passed 16-8.
May 11, 2026Supports Government Efficiency
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 oppose
Co-sponsored and voted for higher county pay rates for preschool special education providers on August 10, 2026. It passed 23-0, with two members absent.
August 10, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Made the motion to adopt Beacon's 2025 budget on November 18, 2024. It set $26.2 million in general fund spending and raised the tax levy 3.8 percent. It passed 6-0.
November 18, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: highlandscurrent.org
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Co-sponsored and voted for a resolution on May 11, 2026, offering domestic violence danger-screening training to all elected officials in Dutchess County. It passed 24-0.
May 11, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 7 support
Voted on July 13, 2026, for a yearly county housing report that tracks housing data and progress on housing plans. It passed 25-0.
July 13, 2026Supports Housing Affordability
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Seconded and voted on December 15, 2025, to drop the commercial space rule at 248 Tioronda Avenue in return for more housing, including many below-market units. It passed 5-1.
December 15, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: beaconny.gov
Seconded and voted for a Beacon law on October 20, 2025, that gave a partial property tax break for new accessory apartments. It passed 6-0.
October 20, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: beaconny.gov
Seconded and voted for a Beacon law on July 7, 2025, that eased the rules for building accessory apartments. It removed the size cap and the parking-space rule. It passed 7-0.
July 7, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: highlandscurrent.org
Made the motion on December 16, 2024, to let the 248 Tioronda Avenue developer open its apartments before building the required commercial space. It passed 5-2.
December 16, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: beaconny.gov
Voted on August 19, 2024, for Beacon to adopt the state's good-cause eviction law. It bars landlords with more than one unit from evicting tenants without a set reason. It passed 5-0, with two members absent.
August 19, 2024Supports Housing Affordability
Source: beaconny.gov
Voted for Beacon's good-cause eviction law on March 7, 2022. It limits evictions and rent increases above 5 percent a year. The council passed it 6-1.
March 7, 2022Supports Housing Affordability
Source: highlandscurrent.org
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 3 support
Co-sponsored and voted for higher county pay rates for preschool special education providers on August 10, 2026. It passed 23-0, with two members absent.
August 10, 2026Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Made the motion for a Beacon law on February 3, 2025, that expanded property tax breaks for seniors with limited incomes. It passed 7-0.
February 3, 2025Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: highlandscurrent.org
Seconded and voted for a Beacon resolution on May 8, 2023, urging the state to give tenants a right to a lawyer in eviction cases. It passed 6-0, with one member absent.
May 8, 2023Supports Social Programs and Welfare
Source: beaconny.gov
Track record — General
General · 13 records
Joined the Democrats on the county budget committee on July 23, 2026, in voting to delay a vote on the city-county deal for the Oakley Street homeless shelter until September.
July 23, 2026
Source: midhudsonnews.com
Voted on July 13, 2026, to appoint Sapna Moudgil-Shah to the Dutchess Community College board of trustees. The vote split along party lines, 15-10.
July 13, 2026
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Co-sponsored and voted for a county resolution on April 13, 2026, urging the state to pass the MELT Act. That proposed state bill requires all officers, including federal immigration agents, to wear visible uniforms and name badges. It passed 13-9.
April 13, 2026
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Voted on April 13, 2026, to cap the county sales tax on gasoline and diesel at the tax due on a $3 gallon, starting June 1. It passed 22-0.
April 13, 2026
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Voted on March 9, 2026, for a county resolution opposing a planned federal immigration detention center in Chester, Orange County. It passed 20-0, with five members absent.
March 9, 2026
Source: apps.dutchessny.gov
Was named vice chair of the Dutchess County Legislature's Public Works committee in January 2026.
January 8, 2026
Source: dutchessny.gov
Made the motion for a Beacon law on June 16, 2025, that updated the city's loitering rules to match the state's legal marijuana law. It passed 6-0.
June 16, 2025
Source: highlandscurrent.org
Voted for a Beacon law on June 2, 2025, that allowed self-storage businesses in business and industrial zones. It passed 6-1.
June 2, 2025
Source: beaconny.gov
Voted for a Beacon law on May 5, 2025, that banned new drive-through businesses citywide. It passed 6-1.
May 5, 2025
Source: beaconny.gov
Made the motion for Beacon's new 2 percent tax on hotel stays and short-term rentals, adopted 7-0 on November 4, 2024.
November 4, 2024
Source: beaconny.gov
Seconded and voted for a Beacon law on August 5, 2024, that lowered the number of off-street parking spaces required for new buildings. It passed 5-1.
August 5, 2024
Source: beaconny.gov
Voted to appoint Thomas Figlia as Beacon's police chief on May 20, 2024. The council approved him 7-0.
May 20, 2024
Source: beaconny.gov
Seconded and voted for a Beacon City Council resolution on March 4, 2024, calling for a negotiated cease-fire in Gaza. It passed 5-0, with two members abstaining.
March 4, 2024
Source: beaconny.gov
Past race Molly Rhodes ran in:
- Dutchess County Legislator, District 18 · November 3, 2026 · Dutchess County, New York · incumbent