Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has appointed James Amenta as deputy county executive, replacing Johanna Contreras, who is leaving her post to join the office of Congressman Pat Ryan (D-NY).
The appointment was announced April 21. Amenta will begin in the role Monday, according to the county.
Amenta, a Phoenicia resident, has 18 years of experience in the federal government, including 10 years at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and eight years at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. At HUD, he most recently served as a program manager overseeing a team that distributed up to $2 billion annually in federal grants, and previously managed a portfolio of 55 grantees handling $50 million in housing and development funds.
Metzger cited Amenta’s background in public administration, fiscal oversight and interagency coordination in her decision. “James brings a wealth of government leadership and management experience,” Metzger said in a written statement.
Contreras, who had served in the deputy executive role since Metzger took office in 2023, will officially depart April 25. She has accepted a position in Ryan’s congressional office.
Amenta holds a Master of Public Administration from the City University of New York, with a concentration in public policy and urban affairs, and a bachelor’s degree in criminology and philosophy from Central Connecticut State University.
Since moving to Ulster County in 2018, Amenta has been involved in several local initiatives. He co-founded the Phoenicia Farmers Market in 2021 and the Shandaken Community Compost Project in 2024. He and his wife operate a small farm and are raising two children in Shandaken.
The county also announced that Deputy Executive Jamie Capuano will assume additional responsibilities as chief of staff while continuing to manage her current portfolio.
Olivia Sippel is a contributing reporter. Send correspondence to reporting@theoverlooknews.com.