By Kat Leslie
Warwick, NY – In a humiliating and historic turn of events, Mayor Daniel Harter Jr. of the Village of Florida has achieved an unprecedented political failure—becoming the first “unendorsed” candidate in local political history.
Realizing the improbability of re-election as Village Mayor due to years of corruption and scandals, further facing dwindling support of his constituents, Harter set his sights on the seat of county legislator. He aggressively pursued endorsements from the Republican committees of both Warwick and Goshen, the municipalities comprising the district. However, his self-serving ambitions crashed spectacularly, exposing the backroom deals and blatant manipulation that have defined his career.
The Second Vote That Sealed His Fate
Desperately seeking endorsements, Harter aggressively pushed for votes based on outdated district lines that no longer existed. Once the new district lines were publicly released, a second vote was necessitated. And once proper district lines were rightfully applied, Harter’s fraudulent attempt to rig the process fell apart. With a legitimate vote based on proper districting, a formidable opponent emerged—Aaron Ubides, Village of Florida resident, a man with a long history of holding Harter accountable. Despite Harter’s furious opposition and the desperate meddling of his long-time accomplice Alyssa Werner, the committee eventually chose to endorse Ubides. This decision marked a significant political defeat for Harter.
This crushing defeat left Harter in disgrace, stripped of the illusion that he could manipulate the system unchecked. This isn’t the first time Ubides has bested Harter—the two clashed in court over Harter’s illegal decision to turn an emergency access road into a public street without authorization. In that case, Supreme Court Judge Timothy P. McElduff Jr. ruled against Harter, calling his actions “arbitrary, capricious, and without any basis in law.”
Controversial Appointments and Allegations of Corruption and Cronyism
Harter’s downfall has been years in the making. His tenure as mayor has been riddled with controversies beyond his legislative ambitions. Over the past two years, multiple reports have surfaced detailing allegations of misconduct and unethical behavior involving Mayor Daniel Harter Jr. and his administration, often described as a cesspool of nepotism, abuse of power, and self-serving politics. Chief among his enablers has been Trustee Alyssa Werner, a long-time political pawn in Harter’s desperate power grabs.
Werner, initially appointed to the Village Board by Harter himself, later became an active member of the Republican Committee. Many see her sudden shift from a registered Democrat to a Republican Committee member as a calculated move, orchestrated by Harter.
Critics argue that her rapid political ascent is part of Harter’s broader strategy to consolidate power and potentially position Werner as his puppet successor for a Village Mayor. Or was she setting herself up for a future run as Town Supervisor? Either way, the scheme backfired spectacularly, leaving both her and Harter politically isolated.
Trustee Alyssa Werner, reportedly cohabiting with Mayor Harter, participated in votes allocating taxpayer funds for the mayor’s legal defense. Their relationship has been a focal point of ethical debates. Moreover, Werner’s taking part in votes directly benefiting Harter, without proper disclosure of their personal relationship, has raised significant conflict-of-interest concerns. This situation is further complicated by allegations of nepotism, with reports indicating that multiple members of Harter’s family hold positions within the village administration under his direct supervision.
Habitual Abuse of Power: Voting for Themselves & Using Public Funds for Legal Defense
Harter has made a habit of voting for himself, repeatedly using his position to secure advantages and approve measures that benefit him personally. Notably, Alyssa Werner, in her role as Trustee, enthusiastically supported the misuse of Village funds to finance Harter’s legal defense—a move that was widely condemned as a blatant conflict of interest. The two operated as a self-serving duo, leveraging their positions not for the community, but for personal gain.
These incidents underscore the importance of ethical conduct and transparency in local governance, as the actions of a few can significantly impact public confidence and community well-being.
A Legacy of Hypocrisy: Crying “Ethics” Only When Convenient
After spending years weaponizing government positions for personal gain, silencing critics, and attacking reporters, Harter and Werner suddenly found their moral compass—but only when it suited their agenda. Following his crushing endorsement loss, Werner penned a letter to The Advertiser, painting herself and Harter as the victims of a “manipulated vote” vehemently criticizing the committee’s voting process. Her public denunciation, however, has been met with skepticism, given her and Harter’s own history of ethical controversies.
In a laughable display of hypocrisy, Werner ranted about ethics and fairness, despite her and Harter’s years of rigging votes, bullying critics, and funneling taxpayer money into legal defenses for Harter’s corrupt acts.
“The bylaws were waived under the guise of efficiency when in fact they were waived in order to manipulate the vote,” Werner claimed, ignoring the fact that she and Harter had spent years manipulating every vote in their favor.
Even more absurd, Werner bemoaned that the Warwick Republican Committee was being used for political favors, conveniently forgetting that Harter’s entire career has been built on cronyism. The irony is staggering—two of the most unethical figures in local politics now crying foul of corruption they usually create and thrive on.
The irony of Harter and Werner questioning the ethics of the Republican Committee has not been lost on the public. Their tenure in the Village of Florida’s administration has been characterized by numerous allegations of misconduct, including unauthorized actions, conflicts of interest, and personal attacks on dissenters. Their recent outcry appears to many as a deflection from their own ethical shortcomings.
Silencing Opposition: A Pattern of Attacks on Opponents and the Press
Harter has long been known for his rage-fueled vendettas against anyone who dares challenge his authority. Harter’s approach to governance has also been marked by aggressive tactics against opponents and the press. He has a documented history of attacking those who challenge his actions, including reporters and media outlets covering his administration’s controversies.
Harter and Werner routinely use Facebook as their weapon of choice, launching targeted smear campaigns against opponents, critics, and journalists. They used social media to defame and intimidate, all while simultaneously leveraging their official positions to silence dissent.
They have both been caught falsely attributing their statements to their official roles as Village Mayor and Village Trustee, using government titles to lend credibility to their blatant propaganda. This misuse of authority, combined with their ongoing attempts to bully those who challenge them, has further cemented their reputations as unfit for public office.
Harter’s attacks on the media have been relentless, particularly against The Warwick Valley Dispatch, a newspaper that has consistently held him accountable. When the Dispatch reported on his scandals, Harter responded with personal attacks, falsely accusing the paper of bias, using a FB page, which Intro reads: “I am Mayor of the Village of Florida, and want to use this page to allow Village residents to get updates.” It also lists the Village website, mayor’s position, and a public figure profile.
But the reality is clear—Harter’s political downfall is entirely self-inflicted. His abuse of power, disregard for legal procedures, and relentless attempts to control the narrative have finally caught up with him. His humiliating defeat in the endorsement vote is just the latest in a long string of failures, proving that his political future is as nonexistent as his ethics.
The Final Nail in the Coffin: Tarnished Political Future
The culmination of these events paints a bleak picture for Harter and Werner’s political aspirations. Their repeated legal defeats, coupled with ongoing ethical questions and public denouncements, have significantly eroded their credibility. The recent endorsement loss serves as a stark indicator of their waning influence within their own party and the broader community.
With such embarrassing rejection, Harter’s political career is effectively dead. Stripped of Republican support, soon left without an office to manipulate, and facing an electorate that has had enough, his days of unchecked power are over. Orange County’s first “unendorsed” candidate will be remembered not as a leader, but as a cautionary tale of political arrogance and corruption.
As for Alyssa Werner, her own aspirations of power are equally doomed. The community has seen through the sham, and no amount of political maneuvering will change the stain of scandal that now defines her public image.
In the end, Harter and Werner’s legacy is not one of public service, but of deception, self-interest, and ultimately—political irrelevance.
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*For more detailed information on the events leading up to this outcome, refer to the following articles:
- (Leslie K.(2023, August 16, p.5) Mayor Harter Faces Lawsuit Amidst Allegations of Abuse of Discretion and Unlawful Conduct, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2023/08/mayor-harter-faces-lawsuit-amidst-allegations-of-abuse-of-discretion-and-unlawful-conduct/)
- ( Leslie, K.(2023, August 30, p.5). Accumulating Wrongs: Mayor and Board Band Together Against Resident’s Lawsuit. Warwick Valley Dispatch, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2023/09/accumulating-wrongs-mayor-and-board-band-together-against-residents-lawsuit/ )
- (Leslie K. (2023, September 27, p.5) Santa Florida: Legal Saga Continues, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2023/09/santa-florida-legal-saga-continues/),
- (Leslie K. (November 7, 2023 (Warwick Valley Dispatch: A Pillar of Community Reporting Amid Accusations, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2023/11/warwick-valley-dispatch-a-pillar-of-community-reporting-amid-accusations/)
- (Leslie K. (December 8, 2023, p.5 (Corruption Unveiled: Mayor Harter And Attorney Cassidy Face New Allegations Of Misconduct, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2023/12/corruption-unveiled-mayor-harter-and-attorney-cassidy-face-new-allegations-of-misconduct/),
- (Leslie K. (July 27, 2024 (THE VERDICT IS IN Mayor Dan Harter Jr Actions are Arbitrary, Capricious and Without a Reasonable Basis in Law, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2024/07/the-verdict-is-in-mayor-dan-harter-jr-actions-are-arbitrary-capricious-and-without-a-reasonable-basis-in-law/)
- (Leslie K. ( Jan 1, 2025(Katie Bonelli’s Political Maneuvers Spark Outrage Among GOP Loyalists in Orange County, https://www.wvdispatch.com/2024/12/katie-bonellis-political-maneuvers-spark-outrage-among-gop-loyalists-in-orange-county/)
Note from The Editor
Following Ms. Werner’s letter and the overwhelming reaction from our readers, Warwick Valley Dispatch reached out to the Warwick Republican Committee for comment regarding the election process and the concerns raised by Alyssa Werner and Mayor Harter, published on https://www.wvdispatch.com/2025/02/note-from-the-editor/
