The same day Mayor Steve Noble announced that he would not seek a fourth term in office, Kingston Common Council Majority Leader Michele Hirsch announced she would run to succeed him in next year's city elections. If she wins, Hirsch would be the first woman elected to the city’s highest office in the City of Kingston’s 154-year history.

Hirsch took office representing Ward 9 on the council in 2020. Since then she has emerged as one of the body’s most progressive voices on issues like housing, the role of police and mass surveillance. She, along with Ward 2 Alderman Michael Tierney are members of the Democratic Socialists of America Hudson Valley chapter and has supported that organization's local efforts, including pushing for Good Cause Eviction laws and rent control. Shortly after she made her announcement, For the Many, a progressive advocacy nonprofit closely aligned with the DSA, touted her candidacy while withholding an official endorsement pending interviews with potential candidates.

“We understand that Michele Hirsch will be running for mayor, and I personally think she’s the strongest working-class champion to lead our city,” said For The Many Executive Director Jonathan Bix in a press release Thursday. “Michele has been right by our side working to address the housing crisis for years. No one has fought harder than her to protect rent stabilization in Kingston.”

In the same statement 103rd District Assemblywoman and former DSA Chapter head Sarahana Shrestha offered praise for Hirsch.

“As a council member, Michele Hirsch has always demonstrated her commitment to the City of Kingston, not just in the issues she picks important fights on, whether it's standing up for tenants or those who need services in mental health or holding our energy utilities accountable, but also in the way she makes herself available to her constituents, has hard conversations with people, and is always willing to listen and aim higher for when it comes to what the residents of this city deserve,” Shrestha said. “I would be happy to support her run for mayor.”

Hirsch, 57, is a family peer advocate who helps parents and guardians of special needs children navigate education and social services systems. In addition to her role as Ward 9 representative and majority leader, Hirsch also chairs the council’s Laws and Rules Committee. From her first term Hirsch has focused heavily on housing affordability and tenants rights issues. In addition to pushing for legislation intended to protect renters from predatory rent hikes and arbitrary eviction, Hirsch helped lead the effort to have the city opt-in to New York’s Emergency Tenant Protection Act rent stabilization law. Last year, when a new rental vacancy survey conducted by the city’s Office of Housing Initiatives threatened the city’s ETPA eligibility, Hirsch helped lead an effort that included overriding a mayoral veto to maintain it.

“I have been fighting for my neighbors my whole career from my work as a peer family advocate to serving on the Common Council,” Hirsch said in a statement announcing her candidacy. “As an alderwoman and majority leader, I’ve helped keep people in their homes by fighting for tenant protections and tax relief for homeowners and seniors. I am running for mayor to continue these fights and protect the health, safety, and dignity of the people of Kingston. In the coming weeks, I will officially launch my campaign for mayor with my coalition and look forward to building this campaign together.”