About Taylor

I joined the board of Friends of Historic Kingston, the Friends of Senate House, and the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, I was named the City of Kingston Historian, and subsequently became the Regional Coordinator for the Association of Public Historians of New York State (APHNYS). In 2022 I was honored with the Emerging Young Leader of Ulster County Award.

In August 2024, Nina Postupack stepped down as County Clerk and I became Acting Ulster County Clerk. Between Nina and the former Kingston Historian, Ed Ford, I believe I’ve had the two best mentors a public servant could ask for. Both spent their entire lives to better their community, with the simple goal of helping people.

That is what the Ulster County Clerk really does: help people. Whether it’s making DMV more accessible by extending hours, or helping researchers and genealogists find the records they’re searching for, the County Clerk is here to help navigate what can feel like an overwhelming bureaucracy.

I didn’t see myself realistically having the opportunity to add my name to the illustrious list of Clerks until 2022, when my supervisor retired and County Clerk Nina Postupack asked if I would like to be the Deputy of Records Management. As Deputy, I oversaw the Archival division, the Persen House Museum, and the Hall of Records, which houses over 40,000 cubic feet of government records.

I began attending conferences around the State and realized how unique our historic collection is here in Ulster County. Many Counties don’t even have a records center, let alone an archival division or museum. As one of three deputies, I also helped redesign the County Clerk’s website and began to learn about the ins-and-outs of DMV and Recording and Filing, the other two County Clerk departments. I designed informational panels for DMV and began to fantasize about one day being Ulster County Clerk.

Throughout my time working for the County, my wife Jillian and I were married. Jillian is also a career public servant, working for SUNY Ulster, County Executive Pat Ryan, and eventually the Department of Mental Health. Public service became the driving force in our lives, and we joined various boards and non-profit organizations to help our local community.

Having spent the last eight years working in the Clerk's office, I’ve seen firsthand where we can make meaningful improvements to better serve the hardworking families of Ulster County. There are a few key areas where I believe we can make progress, and I’m confident I have the experience and vision to bring them to life. 

First, I want to ensure our county’s history reflects everyone’s story. That includes creating a hub for community engagement to deepen residents’ connection to Ulster County and it’s history by encouraging active participation in preserving and celebrating local heritage. I also aim to support marginalized communities by continuing to produce exhibits and lectures that focus on underrepresented stories of the past. 

Second, I believe in making essential services more accessible to working families. That means extending DMV hours for those who can’t get there during the day, offering forms in multiple languages and dialects, and launching an initiative to digitize records.

Finally, we need a local government that works smarter, not harder. I’ll push for advanced technology to streamline records management, reduce paperwork, and speed up services like DMV processing. Moving to digital records will also cut down on waste and create a more sustainable future.

These changes aren’t just about efficiency—they’re about building a county where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we can make Ulster County a place that works for all of us. Your vote will help make that vision a reality.