Jimino not seeking re-election
County executive to step aside at end of fourth term
TROY, N.Y. >> After 16 years at the helm of Rensselaer County government, County Executive Kathleen Jimino has decided not to run for a fifth term.
The Republican admits she had initially planned to run for another four-year term, but changed her mind so that she can pursue other interests, though she said she will still serve the community in other ways.
“I found that when I (get home at the end of the day that I don’t have the time to do all the other things that are important to me,” she said Thursday afternoon. “I think we’re in a good position as a county in terms of our finances, in terms of the services we provide … that it’s a good time to hand it off to somebody.”
Jimino is endorsing the current deputy county executive, Christopher Meyer, to be her replace-
ment, saying he was the best person for her to hand the job off to.
“He’s been my deputy for the last seven years and my right hand for the last 12,” Jimino said. “There is no one … who can step right into this job better than him.”
Meyer said Thursday he would rather Jimino run for another term, but said he was honored to have her backing.
“I think we’ve got a great thing going on in Rensselaer County, and I’d like to continue to be a part of it,” said Meyer.
Meyer may face a primary challenge, however, from Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin, R- Schaghticoke. McLaughlin said during a local radio interview on Thursday that he will look into joining the race,
Jimino, 60, was first appointed county executive in 2001 after her predecessor, Henry Zwack, was indicted on corruption charges. She was overhelmingly elected that fall to the first of her four full terms and ran unopposed in each subsequent re- election bid.
After beginning her career in the county’s information technology department, the Catholic Central High School and Siena College graduate worked her way up to commissioner of that department before leaving to become budget director under Troy city manager David Grandeau. She later served as one of Troy’s final city managers before a change in its charter gave the powers of that job to the elected mayor.
Jimino ran in the first mayoral election following the charter change, in 1995, but lost a close race to Democrat Mark Pattison. She re- turned to politics two years later, though, when she was elected to the Rensselaer County Legislature, where she represented Troy until she was appointed county executive.
Jimino was perhaps best known for her frequent criticism of state leaders for passing along an endless string of mandated programs that come with no accompanying funding. The outgoing executive has cited in past addresses the fact that such unfunded mandates make up as much as 80 percent of the county’s annual budget.
She turned some political heads in 2015 she crossed party lines to endorse her brother, Democrat Patrick Madden, in his successful campaign for Troy mayor.
The longtime head of the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program and first-time political candidate went on to win a threeman race with Republican city councilman James Gordon and council president Rodney Wlltshire, a fellow Democrat who ran on a third-party line after losing to Madden in their party’s primary.
Nassau town Supervisor David Fleming hailed his fellow Republican for leading the county to brighter days.
“Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino has been a passionate advocate for the taxpayers and for the smart growth of our county,” Fleming said in an emailed statement.
“Over the years, Nassau has faced many challenges, and Kathy Jimino has been right there with us in the fights to protect our jobs, air, water and future. Rensselaer County’s future remains bright.
Together, we can continue on Kathy’s path to make our communities an even better place to live and raise a family.”