Goodermote retires from county Legislature
TROY, N.Y. >> Rensselaer County Legislator Lester Goodermote is retiring from the government body, effective immediately, citing health reasons.
The chairman of the Legislature, Stan Brownell, announced Goodermote’s decision in a Friday news release, saying his fellow District 5 representative has been dealing with health problems in recent years and is often unable to attend legislative meetings.
“It has been a great honor to serve as a member of the Rensselaer County Legislature and to represent my neighbors in eastern Rensselaer County,” Goodermote said in the news release. “I need to focus on my health for the coming months and believe it will be better for someone else to take the job now.”
The Legislature will appoint an interim replacement until a permanent one can be chosen in the Nov. 7 elections. Goodermote has endorsed Jeff Wysocki, a farmer and member of the Hoosick Town Board, as his replacement. District 5 includes the towns of
Hoosick, Petersburgh, Grafton, Berlin and Stephentown.
“We want to thank Lester for his nearly three terms of outstanding and faithful service to the residents of eastern Rensselaer County,” Brownell said in the news release. “He has been a hard worker and a friend to so many as a legislator, judge and business owner.”
Goodermote was elected to the Legislature in 2005 and re-elected in 2009 and 2013. Prior to serving as a legislator, he was a Hoosick town judge, and he is the owner of a tax preparation firm and gift shop.
“As a legislator, Lester always fought for his constituents and for what he thought was best for our County,” county Executive Kathleen Jimino said in a statement. “I thank him for his many years of service to the county and leadership on the issues impacting the communities he served.”
Brownell credited his Republican colleague for voting for several consecutive county budgets that stayed under the state tax cap, supported policies that led to protection of 6,000 acres of farmland and open space, maintained strong county services and generated savings on insurance contracts and legislative operations.
“Lester has been a steady hand in the Legislature and great on budget issues and giving a voice to his constituents,” said fellow Legislator Phil Danaher, the group’s vice chairman for finance. “Lester was proud of how accessible he was to the people he served. He took care of problems big or small and was always attentive to the needs of his residents,” added Vice Chairman Alex Shannon.