A one-time City of Kingston mayoral candidate, proud full-blooded Italian, and mother of seven, Legislator Jeanette Provenzano is an active fighter for the working people in her community. Known for her loyalty, strength in character, work ethic and direct straight forward candor, she has inspired many to not only get “in the game” but to make a difference. A favorite saying from her early political career is “A women’s place is in the struggle.”

Jeanette has had a lot of firsts in her career. From being the first woman nominated by a major party as their mayoral candidate in the City of Kingston to serving as the first female Minority and then Majority Leader of the Ulster County Legislature. Serving now in her twenty-second year representing Ulster County residents, Jeanette has felt the struggle to gain acceptance, support, and funding as she was initially considered the “outside chance”.

Well, this gamble has paid off for the benefit of Ulster County residents. An advocate for the human rights, Jeanette pushed for the rights of people of all sexual orientation. She worked through the “old boy” form of government to help transform legislative actions into one of inclusion and bi-partisanship. During her tenure as the Administrative Services Committee Chairman, Jeanette worked with a bi-partisan committee existing of Legislators and Union representatives to examine the possibility of a self-insurance program for Ulster County government. Through the diligent of work of this committee, the choice of a firm with experience in self-insurance was approved by unanimous vote and this action saved the County $4 million the first year of its implementation.

Over the years, Jeanette has owned and operated a Convenient Food Mart, served as the Ulster County Representative for New York State Senator Art Gray, Legislative Aide for New York State Assemblyman Larry Bennett, and Director of Civil Service, Personnel and Insurance for the City of Kingston. She is the proud mother of seven – Michael, Sally, Dino, Rose, Linda, Michelle and Laurie, as well as fourteen grandkids and five great-grandchildren.

Jeanette’s love of family and politics is challenged only by her love of golf. Warm summer nights will often find Jeanette on the links. But even golf will not keep her from helping constituents who need that support to walk through the County process to get what they need. As a social liberal and fiscal conservative, Jeanette focuses on not spending more money but spending it smarter.