nancy j. cozean was mayor of the city of poughkeepsie, new york, usa from 2004 to 2008. during her tenure the city has experienced significant economic growth and its first sustained population growth in nearly 50 years (state of city reports 2003-2006). a democrat, she made her first venture into politics in 1996, challenging the republican incumbent ny state assemblyman tom kirwan, and was narrowly defeated.