Cohoes judge gets county seat nod

Democrats back Andra Ackerman in unanimous vote

Albany County Democrats unanimously endorsed Cohoes City Judge Andra Ackerman as their candidate to fill a vacancy in County Court next year.

The party committee picked Ackerman, 47, following recommendations from its law and executive committees, party chair Jack Flynn said.

Ackerman faces City Court Judge Holly Trexler and Jasper Mills, chief counsel to Sheriff Craig Apple, in a primary in June.

Trexler and Mills are also former prosecutors.

If elected, Ackerman would become the first woman in the seat.

“Although I am humbled by the historic potential of this endorsement and look forward breaking the gender barrier in County Court, I respectfully ask the voters to support me not because I am a woman, but because I am a uniquely qualified candidate who happens to be female,” Ackerman said in a statement.

Libby Post, Mills’ campaign manager, said, “It’s all about reaching the voters. And that’s what we’ll be doing. Albany County is all about retail politics, and Jasper is both professional and personable.”

Stephen Napier, Trexler’s campaign manager, issued a statement from the judge thanking the committee for “affording me the opportunity to speak to them about my two decades of experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, as a full time judge in one of Albany County’s busiest criminal courts, and taking my vision of restorative justice countywide. I look forward to bringing that message to the voters of Albany County so that they can make the final choice.”