Ruggiero

ALBANY – In politics, you take care of your own.

Long time Dutchess County Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Ruggiero, who waged an unsuccessful campaign for county executive against incumbent Republican William Steinhaus last fall, has been hired by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

Ruggiero said the comptroller will use his background in local government to that office’s advantage.

“They want to take my local government experience and help better expose the comptroller’s office to what he needs to do locally, come into the towns, see who he needs to meet, and I could bring that prospective into the office and help build a program,” he said.

Ruggiero, who will split his time between Albany and New York City, will have the title of director of strategic planning.