The Rockland County Legislature voted Thursday evening to finalize its leadership team for 2026, reelecting Jay Hood Jr. to a fifth consecutive term as Chairman. Legislators also reelected Aney Paul as Vice Chairwoman and selected Phil Soskin as Second Vice Chairman.
Party leadership positions were also confirmed, with Democrats reelecting Alden H. Wolfe as Majority Leader and Republicans reelecting Lon M. Hofstein as Minority Leader. Dana Stilley was appointed Deputy Majority Leader, while Raymond W. Sheridan III was named Deputy Minority Leader.
“I am grateful to my colleagues for once again placing their trust in me,” Chairman Hood said. “I look forward to continuing our collaborative work within the Legislature and with the County Executive and Administration to deliver responsible governance and positive results for Rockland County residents. We accomplished a great deal in 2025, and I am confident we can build on that momentum in 2026.”
Chairman Hood has served in the County Legislature since 2007 and previously held the roles of Vice Chairman and Majority Leader. Before joining the Legislature, he served on the Haverstraw Town Board. Vice Chairwoman Paul, who was first elected to the Legislature in 2012, is serving her seventh term as Vice Chairwoman and has previously served as Majority Leader.
During the meeting, County Legislator Moshe Hopstein was also sworn in after winning election in November to fill the seat vacated by Aron B. Weider, who was elected to the New York State Assembly.
Legislators unanimously reappointed Laurence O. Toole to a one-year term as Clerk to the Legislature, with Mary Widmer appointed as Deputy Clerk. All officials were sworn in by Rockland County Clerk Donna Silberman.
Chairman Hood also highlighted several major accomplishments from 2025, including continued property tax relief. The 2026 budget includes no increase in county property taxes, following 2 percent reductions in both 2025 and 2024 and no increases in 2023 and 2022.
Among other actions, the Legislature approved up to $2 million in emergency funding for local food pantries after federal SNAP funding ended on November 1, 2025, with any unspent funds set to revert to the county. Funding for nonprofits and government agencies serving children, veterans, and seniors was increased to $2.677 million in the 2026 budget — a 14.3 percent increase over 2025 — to address growing community needs.
Affordable housing remained a priority through the Housing Loan Action Opportunity (HALO) program, a $13.5 million revolving loan fund supported by federal ARPA dollars. In 2025, four major HALO awards were approved, supporting the creation of 441 new affordable and senior housing units and the preservation of 90 existing units.
Additional accomplishments cited included progress on redeveloping county-owned properties, such as the Sain building for workforce housing; the preservation of more than 300 acres of open space to protect drinking water aquifers, steep slopes, and historic sites; and continued investment in the county’s $30 million Complete Streets initiative to improve pedestrian safety through new sidewalks along county roads.
The Legislature also amended and expanded the former Rockland County Volunteer Benefit Act, renaming it the Jared Lloyd Rockland County Volunteer Benefit Act, or the Jared Lloyd Act. The updated law provides up to $1 million in support to the families of volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel, Auxiliary Police, and HazMat and Technical Rescue Team members who lose their lives in the line of duty. In Rockland County, all emergency responders outside of law enforcement serve as volunteers.
