Fallsburg Election Alert!
Dear Friends and Neighbors
Democracy means that ideally there are choices in an election. Given all the issues Fallsburg has faced in the last year from controversy in revising the Town zoning codes, to illegal construction and ignored stop work orders, and to the Sandburg Creek turning turquoise last week, resident were rightly frustrated that Nate Steingart, a current Town Board member, is running unopposed for Fallsburg Town Supervisor.
In a surprise move, Brett Budde, Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi have announced their write-in candidacy for the Fallsburg Town Board elections on Sunday, Oct.26th. Brett will be running for Town Supervisor. Nate Steingart is already on the ballot for Town Supervisor. Josh and Dara will be running for an open seat on the Town board. Also on the ballot for Town Board are Amy Barkley-Carey, Michael Bensimon and Miranda Behan. Only two candidates can be elected for the two positions.
Please review the positions and history of all the candidates running in this election and vote accordingly. Vote Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Below is the Fallsburg for Everybody press release
Community Leaders Launch Write-In Campaign for Fallsburg Town Government
Fallsburg, NY — In response to growing calls for accountability and responsible growth, community leaders Brett Budde, Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi have officially launched a write-in campaign for Fallsburg Town Supervisor (Brett Budde) and Town Board (Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi).
The team, who have been recognized for their dedication to sustainable development, local business, and civic engagement, will run as independent write-in candidates on the Fallsburg for Everybody ticket which is committed to protecting rural lands, ensuring that town leadership listens to all residents, and to building an actual plan to deal with infrastructure issues.
Brett Budde, candidate for Town Supervisor, explains the ticket’s motivation: “Fallsburg deserves leadership that listens, plans, and works for the people, not for special interests,” said Budde. “We’re running a write-in campaign because the people of this town deserve a real choice. Our infrastructure is failing, our water mains are decades old, and our residents are paying the price. We’re ready to fight for the funding and support Fallsburg needs.”
Josh Druckman, owner of The Outlier Inn in Mountaindale, highlighted the team’s commitment to protecting Fallsburg’s rural character while creating opportunity: “Fallsburg’s future depends on protecting our rural lands and heritage while supporting investment and responsible growth in our hamlets,” Druckman said. “We can do both with thoughtful leadership.”
Dara Manzi, a third-generation Fallsburg resident and local business owner, emphasized collaboration and community empowerment: “We’ve built our businesses and our families here. We believe in this town and its people,” said Manzi. “Our goal is to bring everyone together, residents, business owners, and local organizations, to solve problems honestly and openly.”
The Fallsburg For Everybody ticket will focus on four key priorities:
Protect wetlands, the environment, and agricultural land by enforcing common sense preservation and requiring environmental audits of site plans to make sure wetlands are properly delineated before development begins.
Fix Fallsburg’s infrastructure by lobbying state and county officials to secure resources for replacing aging water mains, strengthening fire safety, modernizing essential services and developing a road management plan built around safety for high-traffic seasons.
Enforce zoning laws by increasing oversight, permit costs and violation fees for developers and new builders, by keeping low-density zoning in Rec 1 zones, and by removing loopholes for trailer and mobile home developments.
Establish a community roundtable to bring residents and visiting communities together to establish a culture of collaboration and neighborliness.
Please write-in the following names on Election Day:
Town Supervisor: Brett Budde
Town Board: Josh Druckman and Dara Manzi
Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
For more information, visit www.Fallsburgforeverybody.org or follow @Fallsburgforeverybody on Instagram
Contact: Brett Budde Email: brettnbudde@gmail.com Phone: 917-573-5916
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.