SMYTH RUNNING FOR COUNTY EXEC
Democrat Andrea Smyth formally announces bid for Rensselaer County Executive
RENSSELAER, N.Y. » Local Democrats and supporters came together Thursday afternoon in Riverfront Park to formally announce Andrea Smyth as the Democratic candidate in the Rensselaer County Executive race.
Smyth and her supporters were joined by several Democratic elected officials such as Troy Mayor Patrick Madden, Rensselaer Mayor Dan Dwyer, Assemblyman John McDonald III, state Sen. Neil Breslin and U. S. Rep. Paul Tonko, who introduced Smyth to the podium during the news conference.
Smyth grew up in rural Duchess County, the second of six children of Gerard and Anne Marie Smyth. She is a graduate of Arlington High School, the University of South Florida and the Rockefeller College Graduate School of Public Affairs & Policy at UAlbany. She has a BA in Public Relations and an MPA in Public Management. Smyth has worked for some of Albany’s most influential associations, includ-
ing the New York State Association of Counties, the New York Public Welfare Association and the Home Care Association of NYS. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the NYS Coalition for Children’s Mental Health Services and owner of A Smyth Advocacy, a government relations and strategic planning firm she opened in 1999. As owner and principle of A Smyth Advocacy, Andrea was able to balance her career with raising a family. Andrea and her husband, Ron Massaroni, have lived in East Greenbush since 1994. They have three children, Tess, Quinn and Jack Massaroni. As an involved member of the community, Andrea has coached soccer, served on the Board of Directors of both East Greenbush Soccer Club and Sunshine Day Care Center and taught faith formation classes at Holy Spirit. She currently serves on the Citizens Fiscal Advisory Committee and the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee.
“It’s very easy to stand here today with every bit of self- assertiveness and conviction that we have in the candidacy of Andrea Smyth, the best person to lead Rennselaer County into the future,” said Tonko before introducing Smyth to the podium.
Smyth told her supporters that she is running because the county needs an executive who will fight for things that will improve the quality of life of every citizen.
“I want to invest in infrastructure improvements that ensure we can help attract employers to the county and improve water quality and a reliable delivery system,” said Smyth. “I will work closely with our Federal and State partners who may provide grants to defray costs to local taxpayers. We need a county executive who understands the importance of protecting our citizens from national efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act which would drastically cut Medicare and severely impact our county nursing home and hospitals.”
Smyth said that she feels she is qualified enough to become a successful county executive and that she will have more voter enrollment on her side.
“Circumstances surrounding the Rensselaer County Executive race are the stuff that political analysts dream of; a longterm incumbent [Republican Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino] is stepping down, there is a primary among the opposing side and the voter enrollment is trending towards our side,” explained Smyth. “But those circumstances are not the primary reason why I amrunning. I am putting forth my candidacy to the people of Rensselaer County because I have the characteristics and qualifications required for this Executive Management position.”
The other candidates running to replace Jimino include Deputy County Executive Chris Meyer and Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, both Republicans.