Councilman William H. Beale, Ward 1

Town of Wappinger Councilman William H. Beale, was first elected in 2006 and has been re-elected nine times since. As the senior member of the town board, Councilman Beale has had the pleasure of working with six different Town Supervisors, previously serving as Deputy Town Supervisor from 2008-2012, 2016-2017 and 2022-2023.

Councilman Beale represents the first ward, which encompasses the northwest quadrant of the town, which includes the hamlets of Hughsonville and Middlebush, the northern Route 9 corridor, the northern Route 9D corridor, and two-thirds of the Village of Wappingers Falls.

Councilman Beale’s focus has been to create town government efficiencies through reduced spending and effective management. During his tenure, programs and services have been expanded, all while remaining under the New York State 2% tax cap each year since its inception. Councilman Beale created a “taxpayer protection fund” in 2016 ensuring town taxes remain among the lowest per capita in Dutchess County.

Councilman Beale’s signature achievement has been the creation of the Sgt. Mark C. Palmateer 9/11 Memorial Park, located on Route 9 between Old Hopewell Road and Sgt. Palmateer Way. This park contains a 2,700 pound section of World Trade Center steel, recovered from Ground Zero, in the days following 9/11. The park is named for Sgt. Mark C. Palmateer, originally from Hughsonville, who was the first soldier from Dutchess County to die in the War on Terror.

Beale’s roots are in our town’s volunteer fire service. As a member of the Hughsonville Fire Department since 1992, he was elected the youngest fire company president in New York State at age 19 and was subsequently elected fire chief at age 24, counting him among the youngest fire chiefs ever in Dutchess County. Today, Beale remains active in the Hughsonville Fire Department responding to hundreds of calls for assistance each year as a chief officer and emergency medical technician.

By day, William H. Beale serves as Dutchess County’s Director of Emergency Management, with county-wide responsibilities. In this role, he is responsible for emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation to and from major emergencies and disasters. During COVID, Beale oversaw distribution of critical personal protective equipment and test kits to all municipalities, first responders, healthcare entities, and thousands of residents in Dutchess County. In this role, Beale also oversees and manages the county’s Emergency Operations Center, located in Hyde Park.

Beale holds an Associates in Applied Science in Criminal Justice from Dutchess Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership & Communication and a Master of Public Administration, both from Marist College.

Councilman Beale resides on Tuscany Drive with his wife, Erin, a retired police sergeant, and their sons, Liam and Sean.

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Councilman William H. Beale, Ward 1

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