Your Candidates
Sam Watkins
For Village Justice
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Judge Watkins and Voice of Croton share a common principle: preserving the special character of Croton-on-Hudson. Central to that vision is maintaining the Croton Village Court as a vibrant local institution that serves our community along with those passing through.
Judge Watkins has been a resident of Croton for half a century. After graduating from college in 1966, he joined the US Army where he served as an officer and forward observer in Vietnam. After completing his two year tour of duty, he attended law school and began his longstanding practice of law in the community. Over the course of his distinguished public service, he served two years on our water control commission, eight years as a Village Trustee and is currently in his twentieth year as Croton Village Justice. While raising his two children here, he coached their AYSO soccer teams for seven years and continues to give back to the community as chairman of the Search for Change Work for Mentally Ill, serving on the Phelps Hospice Board, volunteering at Blythedale Children’s hospital and serving on the Johnson Scholarship Committee. A graduate of Yale University, and Boston University Law School, Judge Watkins brings extensive experience in criminal law to the bench and is widely respected for his fairness, integrity, and thoughtful approach to justice.
Click here to review and provide input on the Voice of Croton’s principles and initiatives. Connect with Sam at sam@voiceofcroton.org
Mary Lynn Dlabola
For Village Trustee
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Mary Lynn brings over forty years of public service experience to this race, with a career dedicated to fairness, accountability, and thoughtful decision-making in New York’s court system. As a Special Referee and Chief Court Attorney, she has advised judges, supervised court attorneys, and presided over thousands of civil cases in the New York State Supreme Court in the Bronx—developing the kind of judgment and integrity our village leadership depends on.
Entrusted by Supreme Court Justices to hear complex cases, Mary Lynn made both judicial recommendations and legally binding decisions in a wide range of civil matters, including matrimonial, business dissolution, election, and real property law. Her work required not just legal expertise, but the ability to listen carefully, weigh competing perspectives, and reach fair, balanced outcomes—skills that are directly transferable to serving our community.
Mary Lynn has called Croton home for over 18 years. She and her husband chose this village intentionally—leaving Long Island to escape overdevelopment and find a community that values character, balance, and quality of life. Today, as a recent retiree, she is committed to protecting those same values.
With the support of Voice of Croton, Mary Lynn, a registered Democrat, is focused on preserving the character of our village through smart, resident-driven development—not decisions shaped by outside pressures or short-term interests.
Her leadership extends beyond the courtroom. She has served as Vice President of the Court Attorneys Association of the City of New York, as well as serving as a Parent Association President and School Trustee—roles that reflect her long-standing commitment to service, collaboration, and community engagement.
As Village Trustee, Mary Lynn will bring a steady, experienced voice to local government. She is committed to transparency, to incorporating resident voice into policy, and to finding common ground on the issues that matter most. At a time when communities face increasing pressure and change, Croton deserves leadership that is thoughtful, experienced, and grounded in the values that make this village special.Click here to review and provide input on the Voice of Croton’s principles and initiatives. Connect with Mary Lynn at marylynn@voiceofcroton.org.