When the Pumpkin Patch Turns Political: The Sequel Nobody Asked For

The race for local offices is heating up – and Kat Leslie wonders if some political pumpkins should have been left uncarved. She stirs the pot in this week’s column on local elections, bruised egos, and one Mayor who just can’t stay away from the race – or out of the headlines.

By Kat Leslie

There must be something in the cider. Every other autumn, on add years, as pumpkins ripen and tempers ferment, our quiet corner of Orange County turns into a full-blown political hayride—complete with potholes, flying straw, and at least one person who insists on sitting up front to steer the wagon, even though they’re no longer on the team.

This year’s local elections are shaping up to be less about potholes and budgets, and more about the water, the air, or who’s in the White House—depending on which Facebook thread you stumbled into first. Somewhere between the cable news echo chamber and the group chat conspiracy swirl, the humble truth got lost: local elections are about local people. The ones who actually fix the roads, fund the fire trucks, and keep the zoning board from turning every cornfield into a condo complex.

But try telling that to a former hopeful for a Legislator’s seat, Mayor Dan Harter Jr.—a man who simply refuses to fade quietly into the village minutes.

The Ghost of Politics Past

Though not on the ballot (and not for lack of trying, either), Harter has managed to haunt this election season like a politician with unfinished business. Still smarting from his courtroom defeat to Aaron Ubides, the very man who also bested him at the primary vote box, Harter has now popped up with a Letter to the Editor endorsing Ubides’ opponent, Jonathan Redeker.

In it, he praises Redeker’s “People over Politics” philosophy and claims it “resonates with the way I fight for the people of Florida.”
The only fighting the people of Florida remember, however, involved lawsuits, overreach of power, and a legal tab picked up by taxpayers.

When Harter wasn’t fighting his critics in court, he was fighting them on Facebook (“Warwick Valley Dispatch: A Pillar of Community Reporting Amid Accusations” November, 2023).

When your time in office includes courtroom drama and efforts to manage media criticism, maybe sitting this one out would’ve been the wiser choice.

Readers may recall the Dispatch’s earlier reporting on the court case where Ubides prevailed against Harter after the former mayor was accused of overstepping his authority and misusing his office. Those details were covered extensively in “Corruption Unveiled: Mayor Harter and Attorney Cassidy Face New Allegations of Misconduct” (Warwick Valley Dispatch, December, 2023), and follow-up “THE VERDICT IS IN Mayor Dan Harter Jr Actions are Arbitrary, Capricious and Without a Reasonable Basis in Law” ( July 27, 2024 )

So when Harter now reemerges to publicly endorse another candidate—especially one seeking to represent Florida and Goshen in the Orange County Legislature—it’s fair to ask whether his “support” helps anyone other than himself.

It is unclear whether Redeker actually asked for this endorsement, but if he did, it would show how little he knows about the village he hopes to represent, and he may soon learn that a Dan Harter seal of approval is less of a campaign boost and more of a political curse. Around here, that’s like being handed a pumpkin with a flickering candle inside and told, “Good luck—it’s still warm.”

And if Redeker truly wanted Harter’s endorsement, it’s a curious move for someone hoping to win Florida’s trust, where Dan Harter’s blessing isn’t so much a badge of honor as it is a caution sign — bright, flickering, and best admired from a safe distance.

From Missteps to Misdirection

Let’s not forget Harter’s highlight reel: accusations of overstepping his authority as mayor, controversial appointments and allegations of nepotism and cronyism, and a governing style that critics described as “imperial with a hint of litigation.” His tenure left residents with bruised trust, legal bills, and a lingering sense that government meetings should come with popcorn.

Now, having lost his seat on the Warwick Republican Committee (“Mayor’s Signature Flop: Harter’s Petition Fiasco Highlights Ongoing Incompetence” June 2025, Warwick Valley Dispatch), Mayor Harter, as per multiple local sources, is reportedly the invisible hand behind those “Republicans for Redeker” signs popping up like late-season ragweed. It’s as if, having exited the stage, he couldn’t resist sneaking back on in a different costume—still desperate to direct the show.

The Parade of Familiar Faces

Meanwhile, some of the new faces in this election are anything but unfamiliar, and so are the reasons for their political ambitions.

Some candidates proudly tell voters that their decision to “call Warwick home” was guided by the policies implemented by the same board members they’re now aiming to unseat—proof that civic gratitude sometimes has a surprisingly short shelf life. Others campaign as glossy avatars, airbrushed and better looking versions (or may be visions) of themselves, like Pixar characters auditioning for “Democracy: The Animated Series.”

We haven’t seen this level of theatrical tension since Corey Bachman tried his hand at the Village of Warwick board and promised to “roll up his sleeves and hit the ground running”—which, to his credit, he did… straight out of town before finishing his term. Local residents still recall the blunt farewell that made its way into the folklore of Warwick politics: “F#*& Warwick!”, proclaimed Trustee Corey for everyone to read and hear. It was a short message, but undeniably memorable—proof that campaign promises come in all shapes, sizes, and headline potential.

The Real Stakes

Here’s the thing: elections—especially local ones—have consequences.
They’re not about cable news talking points, nor about settling personal vendettas. They’re about who actually shows up when your street floods, when your taxes rise, when your kid’s school needs a new crosswalk.

So, as emotions run high and lawn signs multiply like squirrels in October, remember: the loudest voice isn’t always the most trustworthy one. Sometimes, it’s just someone trying to rewrite their own ending.

This November, vote for the people who show up to serve, not to settle scores. Because in Florida, New York, we’ve seen what happens when politics turns personal—and it’s cost enough already.

Election Day is November 4. Vote wisely. Because the next headline shouldn’t be another “I told you so.”

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**Editor’s Note:

Full articles and related coverage available at the Warwick Valley Dispatch archives and wvdispatch.com :