There is a Fallsburg Town Board election on Tues, Nov. 4, 2025
Dear Friends and Neighbors
There is an election for Town Supervisor. Nathan Steingart is running unopposed. 3 individuals are running to fill 2 open Town Board seats. Michael Bensimon, current Town Supervisor, and Miranda Behan, elected in 2022, are running, hoping to remain on the board. Amy Barkley-Carey, a relative newcomer to politics, is also running for an open seat.
With these choices before voters, Fallsburg Future carefully considered which candidate best represents integrity, responsibility, and community values.
Fallsburg Future is endorsing Amy as a worthy candidate in this election for several reasons. Foremost is the important issue of following the very laws that you have sworn to uphold. Miranda Behan has apparently violated town zoning codes for years. It appears that she is refusing to comply with resolving the multiple issued violations on her properties in Hurleyville. Because she is on the Town Board, she has forced Fallsburg to spend much needed money to hire an independent inspector and attorney to pursue these charges even though, on the surface, the violations are clear-cut. We feel that disregarding Town Zoning codes and forcing unneeded expenses on the town are a clear abuse of being a Board member, both in spirit and fact. She has betrayed our public trust.
Amy Barkley-Carey offers a fresh perspective based on honesty and service.
As a candidate, Amy Barkley-Carey stands out. A sixth-generation Fallsburg resident, volunteer firefighter, mother, and owner of a 250-acre farm, Amy represents the community’s heart and values:
She attends meetings—not to grandstand, but to listen, understand, and advocate for responsible governance.
She understands rural life, environmental protection, and the importance of sustainable growth.
She is independent, unbought, and rooted in the town’s best interest, not in political machinations or outsider money.
Her dedication to civic involvement isn’t theoretical—it’s visible in her actions. Amy first came to the public’s attention at the March 4th Town Board meeting considering the newly revised building codes. (Miranda did not show up for this extremely important and controversial Town Board meeting! And more important, she also did not attend the recent Town Board approving the newly revised zoning codes.) As the wife of the Loch Sheldrake Fire Chief, Peter Carey, Amy made a strong statement stating that the new codes would endanger the safety of residents and property (3 hours and 3 minutes in)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi_zXcag6ms
Beyond her public engagement, Amy also brings firsthand experience in one of Fallsburg’s most vital sectors—agriculture. Agriculture and local farms are an important constituency in Fallsburg. She is uniquely qualified to represent these interests at the town board. Agricultural and Recreational districts have become the new political playground for developers and their constant desire to build on every bit of open land in Fallsburg, despite the well-known infrastructure issues, water shortages and sewer shortfalls.
Her vision for Fallsburg and for local farming speaks for itself:
“Family Farming is not just a catch phrase, it’s a way of life. Saving the Family Farm; keeping it viable and growing for future generations is not just the goal, it’s the whole mission!
For nine generations, Maple Woods Farm has been productive in the Divine Corners area of Loch Sheldrake, starting with dairy and beef, moving to horses and hay. Names, acreage and various agricultural enterprises have been added, but the mission has always remained; leave a legacy for our children to be proud of.
Pressure on the Sullivan County area grows each year, and the Town of Fallsburg is feeling it greatly. Growth is inevitable, but responsible growth that compliments our natural resources and communities is key to a successful town and environment for generations to come.
I’m running for Town of Fallsburg Board as a Farmer, neighbor and Mother who wants to see her children happy and successful here, on family land. A voice for reasonable growth with common sense rules that benefit all and ensure a future for this town.
I welcome conversations with all neighbors and look forward to meeting many of you at upcoming events.”
Sincerely,
Amy Barkley-Carey
Candidate for Town Council
Please cast your vote for Amy Barkley-Carey for Town Council.
There will be an election for Town Board this fall. Several current members will be running for re-election. Fallsburg Future has decided to publish a weekly newsletter highlighting the issues that face the residents and the town. Each newsletter will highlight a particular topic of concern as well as an overview of a particular issue. We have had technical issues with our email service. It has been corrected and you are able to respond to this email.
Fallsburg's Future is a community network of concerned Fallsburg residents established in January 2016. Its Mission is to help guide the urban development of the town of Fallsburg and its five hamlets, to promote its sustainable economic development, protect the fragile beauty of its natural habitats and enhance the opportunities and quality of life for all its residents and visitors. We hope to curb the suburban sprawl that is threatening to overwhelm the town’s physical infrastructure and destroy the natural beauty that the area depends on for its future development. See us on Facebook and our website Fallsburgsfuture.com.