Before You Vote: Kamal Johnson, Joe Ferris, and Who They Are Beneath the Platform
Five questions for Hudson’s Democratic mayoral candidates — about values, memory, and what’s worth protecting.
In a small city like Hudson — just under 6,000 people, only 2 square miles — it really matters who the mayor is. Unlike larger cities with layers of departments and bureaucratic distance, Hudson’s mayor is in the fold. They live down the block. Their kids might go to the same school as yours. They run into constituents on the sidewalk every day.
That closeness shapes how they govern. How they listen, who they trust, what they notice — all of it impacts what decisions get made and who those decisions serve. And in a city this small, mayoral decisions don’t just manage the present — they shape the long-term future.
Hudson has become a hotspot for outside investment, from real estate developers to state-funded projects. The mayor’s approach to housing, budgeting, zoning, and partnerships can either help residents stay and thrive — or accelerate displacement.
This year, the stakes are especially high. A group of private citizens has proposed a major change to Hudson’s city charter that would dramatically reshape local government. Their plan would make the elected mayor’s role largely ceremonial, shrink the Common Council from 11 members to 5, and place most governing power in the hands of an appointed city manager.
Despite pushback from experts and community members — myself included — this proposal is expected to appear on the ballot in November. Meanwhile, the sitting mayor has the power to initiate an alternate charter review process through a commission.
Against that backdrop, the choice of who holds the mayor’s office takes on even more weight.
On June 24, registered Democrats in Hudson will vote in a primary election between Kamal Johnson, the incumbent running for a fourth term, and Joe Ferris, a first-time candidate with a background in nonprofit and policy work. The winner will go on to face Republican candidate Lloyd Koedding and Independent candidate Peter Spear in November’s general election.
Tonight, Kamal Johnson and Joe Ferris face off in a public debate at the Hudson High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
Ahead of that, I had the chance to ask each of them the same five questions. Not about policy positions — those will be covered in the debate — but about something more personal: who they are, what they value, and why they’re running in the first place.
I’m not endorsing either candidate in this post. Instead, I’m inviting you to pay attention to their answers here and to the debate tonight. And not just to what they would do, but to how they see this city and their role in its future.
What moment or experience made you decide to run for mayor of Hudson?
Kamal Johnson: My inspiration to run for office started in the 11th grade. I was always getting kicked out of class or in trouble, and one day my teacher, Miss Brust, pulled me into the hallway. She told me, “You’re like the mayor of this classroom. Everything you say and do, the other students wait to watch and listen.” She encouraged me to use those leadership skills to improve the things I saw wrong and to inspire people in a positive direction. As a joke, I made a sign that said “Kamal for Mayor” and hung it in her classroom. As I grew older, I started noticing changes in my community that were making it harder for families — including mine — to survive. That’s when I decided to run for mayor, to create real change, and to show the entire community what Miss Brust saw in me back in 11th grade.
Joe Ferris: Earlier this year, it became clear to me that this fall’s election could be focused solely on the Charter Change proposal. We have had two elections where Mayor Johnson ran unopposed. Another cycle without a robust debate about the future of the city and its residents would be a disservice to the voters. Around the same time, it was revealed that more than $2.5 million in property taxes had gone uncollected and $11,000 in utility bills at the Senior Center had gone unpaid by City Hall.
I thought about the situation at City Hall and my background in politics and non-profit advocacy. As I reflected on my work in the community as a Trustee on the Hudson Area Library Board and as an active member of the Hudson City Democratic Committee and Columbia County Democratic Committee where I’m chair of the Communications Committee, I decided I have the background to not only win but be the kind of mayor who can help Hudson to a brighter future.
What’s one policy you would champion in your first 100 days, and why does it matter to you?
Joe Ferris: Our streets are dangerous. We have a crosswalk crisis. The three car collision at Columbia and North 6th last week underscores how our street design puts pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers at risk. The fact that the intersection in front of the library lacks painted crosswalks is unacceptable. I would identify the ten most dangerous intersections in our city and come up with short-term solutions and long-term changes to address this crisis. Other cities have achieved incredible results on this front with daylighting. It is time City Hall follows those cities’ lead and prioritize the safety of the most vulnerable of those who use our streets and sidewalks.
Kamal Johnson: One policy I’d love to introduce is The Environmental Justice & Public Accountability Policy. This initiative would protect Hudson’s residents, waterfront, and natural spaces by requiring industrial and waterfront projects to undergo environmental justice impact reviews, increasing public transparency, and creating a citizen-led advisory committee to hold both companies and the city accountable. It would ensure that future decisions about our environment and public land prioritize community health, safety, and equity.
Hudson is changing. What’s one thing you believe must not be lost in that process?
Kamal Johnson: Hudson is changing, and one thing we can’t afford to lose is its most valuable asset — the people. Long before Hudson made it into Esquire and Vogue for its restaurants and boutiques, people fell in love with this city because of its close-knit, diverse, and vibrant community. Hudson has always had a coolness and vibe you couldn’t find anywhere else, something so special it made people leave bigger cities just to be part of it. That spirit is what makes Hudson Hudson, and it’s worth protecting.
Joe Ferris: Not only is Hudson changing, but the environment we live in is changing. We must not lose sight that the Hudson River is both one of our greatest resources and will pose an existential threat to our city in the coming decades. Hudson must remain committed to building the park at Furgary Fishing Village and redeveloping Henry Hudson Park. Not only will this project increase recreational access to our waterfront, it is also designed with resiliency in mind.
As the recently released Comprehensive Plan notes that river levels are projected to rise significantly and we need to incorporate climate resilient designs in our infrastructure. If we don’t acknowledge the former and embrace the latter, there will be incalculable loss for the residents and businesses closest to the river that will reverberate across Hudson.
Whose voices do you think are currently underrepresented in Hudson’s decision-making, and how would you bring them in?
Joe Ferris: Our seniors. Many of them have lived here for decades if not their entire lives. The limited opportunities to age in place is part of the housing and affordability crisis. When the fact that our population is aging comes up, it is usually referred to as a negative. This ignores the fact that these are our neighbors. As mayor, I would make a point of going to where our seniors meet and live to hear what they need. What they want. And to share with them how my administration is working for them.
Kamal Johnson: I believe the voices of our older generation need to be heard more. So many longtime residents shaped Hudson into the community it is today. A lot of our beloved traditions weren’t created by government officials, but by citizen groups who cared deeply about this place. We owe it to them to keep their stories, wisdom, and vision alive as Hudson moves forward.
What’s something you love about Hudson that most people overlook?
Kamal Johnson: One thing I love about Hudson that’s often overlooked is how deeply rooted it is in activism. From the fights to save our waterfront and preserve historic landmarks, to battles against casinos, to standing up for social justice, LGBTQ rights, and fair housing — Hudson has always been a city that fights for what it believes in. It’s in our DNA to challenge the status quo and stand up for what’s right
Joe Ferris: One of my favorite movies is the documentary The World Before Your Feet. It follows Matt Green as he attempts to walk every block in New York City. One of his favorite parts of these walks is to look up at the top of buildings because of the stories they tell. When walking the streets of Hudson, particularly Warren, I love looking up. The names at the top of the building noting who first owned the buildings. There’s a handful of spots around where you can see different types of bricks on the side of them that indicate when they expanded the building. The “Hudson” sign on Prison Alley between 4th and 5th that looks like it was once at the train station in the days of the New York Central. All of these are artifacts of our city’s history. They are reminders of the people who have come before us who, like us, called Hudson home.
I so enjoyed hearing both of their perspectives. Both Kamal Johnson and Joe Ferris clearly care about Hudson — but they show it in different ways.
Kamal roots his answers in lived experience. His story begins in a public school hallway and winds through community memory, environmental justice, and the long view of people-powered change. His answers reflect a grounded optimism: that policy can protect what makes Hudson vibrant, and that honoring elders, traditions, and the city’s activist DNA is central to moving forward. He speaks about trust built through presence.
Joe positions himself as a problem-solver. His story begins with what isn’t working — uncollected taxes, unsafe intersections, missed opportunities — and moves quickly into analysis and specific fixes. His answers are structured, pragmatic, and attentive to overlooked voices and infrastructure. He frames his candidacy as a call for transparency, accountability, and planning.
Taken together, these responses offer more than campaign materials. They reveal two ways of seeing the role of mayor: one grounded in long-standing presence and relational leadership; the other in critical oversight and structural reform.
Both lenses are worth considering. And in this moment — with our housing future uncertain, a charter revision looming, and the character of the city hanging in the balance — it’s worth asking yourself not just who agrees with you on paper, but:
Who sees what’s worth protecting in this city?
Who’s prepared to hold it with clarity and care?
Who will make the hard call when no one’s watching?
Whoever you’re leaning toward, I hope you’ll tune in for the debate tonight at 6:30 pm in the Hudson High School auditorium and VOTE in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 24th. Stay close to this process, all the way through November. Our community deserves it!
How to Vote in Hudson
This year’s Democratic primary is on Tuesday, June 24, with polls open from 6 am to 9 pm across the city. Here’s where to go based on your ward:
Wards 1–3: St. Mary’s Academy, 301 Allen St
Ward 4: Columbia County Office Building, 401 State St
Ward 5: Hudson Central Fire Station, 77 N 7th St
You can also vote early at the Columbia County Office Building (401 State St). Hours vary between Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 22 — check Columbia County Board of Elections or call (518) 828‑3115 for the daily schedule.
This is a closed primary, meaning only registered Democrats living in Hudson can vote on June 24.