A community advocate known throughout the county, Laura Petit has resided in the Town of Esopus for 40 years. Laura’s vision for Esopus is to build the community by focusing on resident’s needs and issues: Job security, infrastructure issues, rail and trail, housing and food security, addressing consumer protection, energy efficiency, animal protection and sustainable lifestyles – are some of the concerns that she will address in the legislature.                                                                                                                              

Having raised five children while working full time, Laura received her paralegal certification from Marist College in Poughkeepsie. She served three terms on the Esopus Library Board as President and Vice-President. Laura worked in the environmental field for over thirty years, writing grants and developing programs for local government including zero waste, food recovery and textile collection. As a paralegal, Laura writes and co-sponsors legislation that has made significant changes within Ulster County including revisions to the solid waste law that has closed several illegal landfills, creating the Climate Smart Task Force, installing NARCAN kits in County buildings and the pending Zero Waste Implementation Plan.