Meyer gets GOP nod for county exec
Jimino deputy easily beats back challenge from McLaughlin
NORTH GREENBUSH, N.Y. » Christopher Meyer has received the endorsement of Rensselaer County Republicans in his bid to be the next county executive.
Meyer, currently deputy to retiring county Executive Kathleen Jimino, got the nod by a weighted vote of 11,473-4,421 over Assemblyman Steven McLaughlin, R-Schaghticoke, at the county GOP convention Saturday morning at American Legion Post 1489 in Wynantskill, according to a news release from Meyer.
“What was most impressive was the committee turnout at the convention, regardless of who they supported,” Meyer said in the news release. “The bottom line is the participants showed an excitement that energized our party as we go forward to victory in November.” McLaughlin expressed interest in the position im-
mediately after Jimino announced her plans last month not to run for a fifth four-year term. He received the endorsement of Thomas S. Connolly Jr., chairman of the county’s Independence Party and vice chairman
of the state Independence Party, as well as recently retired U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson and one-time GOP gubernatorial candidate and current Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.
Meyer, however, was endorsed by his longtime boss when she announced her planned retirement and also picked up endorsements from town Republican
committees throughout the county, including North Greenbush, Grafton, Hoosick, Pittstown and Poestenkill.
“I am humbled and honored by all the support I have received and very cognizant not only of the demands of the job, but the responsibility it entails,” Meyer said. “My obligation to deliver good government, if elected, will
be my ongoing dedication to all the residents of our great county.”
McLaughlin has not said whether he plans to challenge Meyer in a GOP primary on Tuesday, Sept. 12. He was re-elected to his fourth two-year term representing the 107th Assembly District in November 2016 and is not up for re-election again there until November 2018.