Eric grew up in Yonkers, New York and has lived in East Fishkill with his wife for nearly 30 years. They have two children who graduated from John Jay High School.
An avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, Eric was immediately drawn to the Hudson Valley. In 1998 he opened a local store on Route 82 in Hopewell Junction, Hudson Valley Pack and Paddle, one of the first stores in the area devoted to canoes, kayaks, and outdoor gear.
The store helped spearhead a community of outdoor enthusiasts eager to explore the Hudson River and surrounding areas, and fostered partnerships providing kayak tours and instruction and the hosting of many paddling events.
Eric was an active participant and event organizer for many Earth Day Clean-ups and Great Hudson River Sweeps and honored as a “River Champion” by Scenic Hudson.
In 2018, he joined his East Fishkill neighbors in successfully protesting against the sale of the Stormville airport to Copart. Residents strongly opposed the environmental impact the auto salvage company would have to our community, citing increased traffic and noise, and pollution to soil and groundwater.
Eric is currently employed at Vassar College where he is shop steward for the local SEIU 200 union. As your County Legislator, Eric will ensure that legislation at the town and county level will keep East Fishkill residents and the town we live in, a top priority.
“I’ve known Eric since 2004. His commitment to community and integrity was evident in his work as a small business owner getting people engaged and active in the outdoors in the Hudson Valley. We continued to work together on a variety of projects, including the Great Hudson River Paddle, and as time passed, I was impressed with his smart, thoughtful and pragmatic approach to things and his fair and equitable demeanor.”
— Ray Fusco, Owner, Hudson Canyon Consulting