County Executive's Biography
William R. Steinhaus was born on November 8, 1949. He is a graduate of Roy C. Ketcham High School in Wappingers Falls, New York, Dutchess Community College and SUNY Brockport, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science in 1972. Mr. Steinhaus continued his education through graduate studies at Bridgeport University and SUNY New Paltz.
Mr. Steinhaus began his elected public service career in 1979 after his election at the age of 28 to the position of Dutchess County Clerk and Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. He was re-elected in 1981, 1984, and 1987 and served in that position through 1991. In 1986, he was honored by the New York State Association of County Clerks as "County Clerk of the Year."
Elected County Executive in November 1991, he took office in January 1992 as the youngest County Executive in Dutchess County's history. Mr. Steinhaus captured nearly 70% of the vote. He was re-elected in 1995, in 1999, and again in 2003 to an unprecedented fourth, four year term. He is now serving in his sixteenth year and is the longest serving County Executive in county history.
Mr. Steinhaus has spearheaded reform in the County’s government including major department and service area consolidations. His wide-ranging cost containment initiatives have proven successful in the areas of criminal justice, health and human services, and administrative realignments. The County’s service mission is being fulfilled with fewer county employees than in 1992 when he first became County Executive.
Primary emphasis has been placed on strong management and executive office leadership and on the promotion of fundamental change in the way the county conducts business. The first executive budget developed by Mr. Steinhaus produced a cut in real property taxes; the beginning of a record that achieved a county tax rate per $1,000 that is 70% lower in 2007 than it was in 1989.
The County Executive has championed the community’s job creation efforts with a comprehensive series of community and economic development policy initiatives and strategies. The centerpiece of Steinhaus’ efforts has been the creation of a strong and vibrant public-private partnership with an emphasis on teamwork, a common community mission and building a more diversified economy. The strategies and policies developed and promoted by Mr. Steinhaus to recover from the 1993 IBM downsizing and its impact have helped produce significant new job growth. Mr. Steinhaus worked with Governor Pataki to structure the effort to convince IBM to develop the $2.5 Billion 300MM chip fab project in East Fishkill which created over 1,000 construction jobs and produced an additional 750 IBM jobs.
As a strong and steadfast partner in Dutchess County’s business attraction and retention efforts, Steinhaus has promoted the importance of Workforce Development in overall economic development and jobs growth in the county. In 1997, he was recognized for his leadership on this issue with an appointment to Governor Pataki’s state task force on Workforce Development. He served five years as the Governor’s appointee to the State Board. In 2000, Steinhaus was nominated for a national workforce development leadership award by the New York State Commissioner of Labor.
In 1996, Mr. Steinhaus received a prestigious state award from the New York State Travel Industry for his outstanding leadership to promote the tourism industry in Dutchess County. Over $445 million is spent annually by Dutchess County travelers. This benefited more than 660 local small businesses and accounts for an estimated 10,000 jobs in our local economy.
He has also helped launch initiatives for regional water systems, a historic Farmland Protection and Open Space Preservation Plan and has been a strong advocate for environmental protection. His 2007 State of the County address titled “Dutchess Goes Green” focused entirely on the environment. The Executive has championed the restructuring of our waterfronts with special focus on Beacon, the Poughkeepsie corridor of the river and Tivoli, and he was asked by the Governor to serve on his special task force to develop greater public access to the Hudson River.
Mr. Steinhaus has been a tireless leader in support of our cultural assets such as the Bardavon 1869 Opera House and Rhinebeck Center for Performing Arts. In 2002, County Executive Steinhaus was actively involved in recruiting the Dia Center Museum to Beacon— and now welcomes up to 70,000 visitors annually. The Mill Street Loft honored the County Executive with its annual “Friends of the Arts” award in 2007.
County Executive Steinhaus led the charge with community leaders to convince the Governor to locate the future world class Rivers and Estuaries Center in Dutchess County. Mr. Steinhaus and his staff prepared the application on behalf of Beacon and Dutchess County, and submitted the proposal that won the competition to locate the future world class Rivers and Estuaries Center in Dutchess. The County is a principal funder of the first building scheduled to open in 2007.
Mr. Steinhaus has long been active in community affairs, dedicated to organizations committed to health, human, family and youth services. He was an early and strong supporter working to launch the Family Partnership Services Center in the City of Poughkeepsie. A 1998 major initiative was to create the Children’s Services Council, with the goal to create a single countywide conversation to address the challenges and opportunities for our children and youth. In recognition of his strong youth advocacy and collaborative community initiatives to better serve youth and families, Mr. Steinhaus was named the 1999 recipient of the Association of New York State Youth Bureaus’ Award, a statewide award which is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding and significant contributions in serving youth.
Steinhaus has served on the Dutchess County United Way Board of Governors from 1980 to 1992 and from 1995 and to 2004. The United Way asked Mr. Steinhaus to rejoin the board, which he did in 2006. He was on the Executive Committee from 1983 to 1992, appointed again in 1995. In 1986/1987 he served as Chairman and Chief Volunteer Officer. His visionary Children’s Services Council received the Community Building Leader of the Year Award in 2002 from the NYS United Way. Mr. Steinhaus has also served as a member of the United Way/Dutchess County Heart Association Joint Committee. In 1985, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the New York State United Way.
In 1994 he was Honorary Chairman of the American Cancer Society “Making Strides” Walk-A-Thon and in 1995 Honorary Chair of the American Heart Association’s Walk/Run annual fundraiser. He served as Honorary Chair of the HIV “Let’s Live” fund raising drive, and was the 1998 Honorary Chairman for the American Cancer Society 3rd Annual Relay for Life.
Mr. Steinhaus previously served as the Vice President, Dutchess County Council for the Boy Scouts of America. He was the 1993 and 1994 Chair of the Boy Scout Annual Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner. During 1989, Mr. Steinhaus was asked to serve as the Capital Campaign Chairman for the Family Services Agency of Dutchess County. In addition, Mr. Steinhaus has previously volunteered as a member of the Capital Campaign Committee for both the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and Y.M.C.A.
Mr. Steinhaus was named a 1992 recipient of the Gold Medal Humanitarian Service Award of the St. Cabrini Home. He was honored as a recipient of the 1993 Friend of the Young Child Award by the Mid-Hudson Association for the Education of Young Children and has been recognized by the Multi-County Community Development Corporation for his outstanding work in creating the Dutchess County Criminal Justice Plan.
In September 2001 Mr. Steinhaus was awarded the Family Partnership Award by Family Services, Inc. for his “enthusiastic leadership, endless devotion and extraordinary capabilities, which continue to strengthen families in Dutchess County.” He received Community Action’s Partnership Award in October of 2002.
In December 2001 Mr. Steinhaus received recognition from the Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce when he was honored with their prestigious annual “Commitment to Community Award.”
In February 2002, Mr. Steinhaus was honored for outstanding community leadership in the fight against HIV and AIDS for his continuing efforts to improve local services. Mr. Steinhaus established the first local HIV Health Services Planning Council in 1994, which made Dutchess County eligible to apply for funding under the Ryan White CARE Act.
The State University of New York at Brockport inducted Mr. Steinhaus into its distinguished Hall of Heritage. In 1994, he was included in the SUNY Alumni Honor Roll which was created to honor select graduates for outstanding professional achievement and significant contribution to higher education through public service. His commitment to education is evidenced by Steinhaus’ service as the 1990/1991 Campaign Chairman for the Dutchess Community College Foundation. He has served 14 terms as president of the foundation, which is dedicated to raising scholarship funds. In May of 2005 Mr. Steinhaus was inducted into the Dutchess Community College Foundation Alumni Wall of Fame. The Executive has been a forceful leader in education with one of his highest priorities to advance the recent construction and renovation projects at the Community College which have totaled more than $40 million since 1998.
In April of 2005, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the New York Community College Trustees. This award recognizes a graduate of a community college of the State University of New York who through his or her professional development and commitment to community has made the world a better place. Only one award in this category is presented in a given year for the entire state.
In October of 1998, he received the Marist College President’s Award for outstanding contributions made to the quality of life in the Mid Hudson Valley.
In February 1997, Mr. Steinhaus was elected to the New York State Association of Counties Board of Directors (NYSAC), a statewide organization serving 62 counties, including New York City. He served as NYSAC’s President in 2002/2003, and as President of the New York State Association of County Executives.
In July of 2003, Mr. Steinhaus was elected to the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors, where he represents New York State. NACo serves as a national advocate for counties and provides them with the resources needed to develop innovative strategies to meet current challenges.
In 2004, Mr. Steinhaus was asked to become a member of the Board of Trustees of the Maplebrook School in Amenia, New York. In June 2007, he was honored with Maplebrook School’s annual President’s Award, recognizing the County Executive as a respected member of the community who has devoted himself to assisting others for the greater good.
On a personal level, he has in the past served as YMCA Youth Soccer Coach and as co-team manager, with his wife, for their son's travel soccer team. Bill enjoys water activities in the summer, golf, doing home projects and any activity that includes his family.
Bill Steinhaus resides in Pleasant Valley with his wife Susie. They have two children, Julie and Matthew, a daughter-in-law Casey and grandsons, Blaine and Reese.
