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Democratic Candidate: NY State Senate, District 41 Dutchess & Putnam Counties
I am a local business owner and homeowner in Rhinebeck, in Dutchess County, NY. I am also an elected official and currently serving in my second term as a Trustee on the Rhinebeck Village Board. My wife Michelle and I are active in community organizations including the local Historical Society, Farmers Market, Chamber of Commerce and Morton Memorial Library. In 2006, I opened Gipson Design Group Inc., which is located in Rhinebeck Village.
Michelle and I lived in White Plains prior to moving to Rhinebeck in 2007. I was a volunteer firefighter, and commuted to Manhattan where I was a design director for MTV Networks and a designer for Rockwell Architecture. For 20 years, I have made my living developing creative solutions for complex problems. I’m a leader in my field and am well regarded for my ability to consistently deliver for a wide variety of businesses and brands.
Born and raised in Tyler, Texas, I am proud of my family’s roots in farming. Encouraged to work hard and to be a self-starter, I put myself through school, graduating from Texas Tech with a BFA in 1987, and Penn State with an MFA in 1991. To do so, I worked as a landscaper, dishwasher, cook, carpenter, painter, cafeteria manager, and scenic and lighting designer.
I believe my multi-faceted background will be a great asset for pursuing an aggressive agenda in Albany. Nothing is impossible if you work hard, and have the imagination and leadership skills to get it done. This philosophy has served me well in my profession and it will serve the people of New York even better.
My top priorities include improving the economy and fostering job growth. This means we must improve the quality of education and inspire our population to become leaders of ingenuity. We have a great amount of raw talent and proven successes throughout our state: now we must create incentives that encourage entrepreneurs to start up new businesses or expand their existing businesses here, rather than leaving for opportunities elsewhere. And, we must protect our natural resources and spur creation of good jobs by promoting the use and manufacture of alternative energy sources.
I’ve been on the campaign trail for over a year, attending over 200 events and logging over 15,000 miles on my car. I’ve met thousands of people and I’d like to meet you. Please let me know about any events in your area and I will do what I can to attend. Sign up for our email list and we’ll let you know about events in your area.
What issues are important to you? Shoot me an email. I’d like to hear from you.
Sincerely,
