KINGSTON, NY – Kingston Common Council President Andrea Shaut today announced her candidacy for Mayor of the City of Kingston, seeking the Democratic nomination and pledging to bring responsible fiscal leadership, open communication, collaborative problem-solving, and compassionate governance to City Hall.
“Kingston is a remarkable city with dedicated residents, vibrant neighborhoods, and enormous potential,” Shaut said. “As mayor, I will focus on responsible long-term planning, transparent communication, and collaborative leadership that brings people together to address challenges and seize opportunities. We need a city government that is both responsive to today's needs and well-prepared for tomorrow's challenges.”
A lifelong resident of the Kingston area, Shaut has served on the Common Council for nine years, with seven years as its president (alderman-at-large). Throughout this time, she has helped guide the city through some of its most significant challenges and opportunities, building a reputation for thoughtful leadership, careful planning, and a commitment to bringing people together to solve complex issues.
Shaut's campaign is centered on four core priorities: big-picture fiscal planning, strong communication, collaborative solutions, and leadership rooted in compassion.
Shaut believes city government must take a long-term approach to financial planning, ensuring investments in infrastructure, housing, public services, and economic development are aligned with Kingston's priorities and financial health. She has also pledged to make City Hall more accessible through regular town halls, an open-door policy, innovative community outreach efforts, and new ways for residents to engage directly with local government.
“The best solutions come from listening,” Shaut said. “Throughout my career, I've learned that bringing people together, hearing different perspectives, and focusing on facts leads to better outcomes. Residents deserve a government that listens, communicates clearly, and works collaboratively to solve problems.”
As a member of the Common Council, Shaut has helped lead Kingston through the COVID-19 pandemic, worked to make city government more accessible by rewriting Council rules and portions of the city code, participated in the development of the city's form-based zoning code, contributed to the Charter Review process, advanced traffic safety initiatives, and established the Common Council Community Award. Shaut has also worked closely with neighborhood groups and community organizations on projects that improve quality of life throughout the city.
Fifth Ward Alderwoman Teryl Mickens said: “I’m supporting Andrea Shaut for Mayor because she represents true leadership. With Andrea, Kingston will have an intelligent, hardworking, fair and compassionate leader. Andrea’s experience as President of the Common Council will allow her to hit the ground running at precisely the time we cannot afford a Mayor in training. She is an attorney, an accomplished musician, and a Kingston native who understands that effectively representing a diverse and changing community requires an open mind and intellectual curiosity. Andrea Shaut is the leader Kingston needs and deserves.”
John Blue, owner of Kingston’s Blue Byrd’s Haberdashery & Music, said: “I love my community and have seen a lot of changes over the years. Kingston’s still changing and for the better, but there are challenges. As a business owner and taxpayer, I want someone who will have steady hands at the wheel and the experience and know-how as Kingston navigates through its changes and challenges. Andrea Shaut is just that leader, and that’s why I’m supporting her.”
Abby Mitchell, public school music teacher and resident of Ward 3, said: “Andrea has been one of the most influential people in my life. As my piano teacher, mentor, and now friend, she inspired me to pursue music education and become a music teacher myself. Her encouragement, generosity, and dedication to her students have had a lasting impact on me. Having seen firsthand her commitment to our community, I know she would bring that same passion and leadership to the role of mayor. I am proud to support Andrea Shaut for Mayor of Kingston.”
Outside of public service, Shaut serves as an attorney with the New York State Unified Court System. She graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School, where she was a teaching assistant, research assistant, and managing editor of Government Law Review.
Before beginning her legal career, Shaut was a respected professional musician throughout the Hudson Valley. A graduate of Ithaca College with a degree in music performance, she returned home after college to help care for her grandmother, who was living with Alzheimer's disease. She went on to build a successful career as a collaborative pianist, serving for 15 years as pianist for the West Point Glee Club and working with countless students, schools, and performing groups throughout the region.
“I've spent my career bringing people together, whether through public service, the law, or music,” Shaut said. “Leadership requires preparation, discipline, creativity, and empathy. Those are the values I will bring to the mayor's office every day.”
“We are all connected by our shared investment in Kingston's future,” she added. “I am running for mayor because I believe in this city, I believe in its people, and I believe that together we can build a stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient Kingston.”
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