Mayor’s Office

Mayor Michael Newhard is a lifelong resident of the Village of Warwick, where he has served as Mayor since 2001, following earlier service on local boards and as a Village Trustee. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a BFA in Painting, he also studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in France.

Since his election as Mayor, the Village of Warwick has flourished in its commitment to community character and public spaces, earning numerous honors including first-place recognition from America in Bloom and Communities in Bloom (International Challenge) for excellence in beautification and civic pride.

During Mayor Newhard’s tenure, cultural programming has continued to thrive, including the Warwick Summer Concert Series—now in its 22nd year—along with the Warwick Arts Festival, the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival, and Wickham Works Arts Collective. These initiatives have helped define Warwick as a creative and regionally significant community.

As Mayor, Michael has emphasized community inclusion and civic engagement, supporting events such as the annual Hispanic Culture Celebration and the Pride Parade and Day of Acceptance. He also spearheaded a yearlong series of seventy-five events celebrating the Village’s 150th Anniversary. As co-owner of Newhard’s the Home Source, located in Warwick’s historic downtown, Mayor Newhard brings a practical understanding of tourism, small business vitality, and public-private partnership. His family has owned and operated the business for over 37 years.

Mayor Newhard’s commitment to community advocacy and collaboration has shaped several landmark projects, including the development of Warwick Grove, a traditional neighborhood community for seniors; Liberty Green, an affordable senior housing complex; and the rebuilding of the Albert Wisner Public Library, recognized nationally as the “Best Small Library in America.”

During his tenure, the Village of Warwick’s park system has doubled in size. Through targeted planning and reinvestment, Village parks have been transformed into more accessible and effective recreational spaces. Railroad Green, acquired by the Village in 2002, was restored under his leadership and became a catalyst for downtown revitalization, transforming a corridor of vacant storefronts into an active district of cafés, restaurants, and shops.

Infrastructure investment has been a defining element of Mayor Newhard’s administration. Projects such as reservoir and dam improvements, construction of a micro-filtration plant, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, and extensive sidewalk and street improvements have strengthened essential services. Collectively, these efforts have been supported by more than $20 million in grant funding, enhancing long-term stability while limiting the burden on local taxpayers. In recognition of this experience, Mayor Newhard currently serves on the Board of Governors of the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal (NYMIR) and holds leadership roles with the New York Conference of Mayors, including appointments to NYCOM’s Executive Committee and Chair of the Energy, Environment and Technology Policy Committee.

Mayor Newhard’s sustained leadership, institutional knowledge, and commitment to collaboration have earned him widespread respect. Under his guidance, the Village of Warwick has continued to evolve while preserving the character, vitality, and sense of place that define the community.