ALBANY COUNTY — Bryan Clenahan has represented the 30th District in the Albany County Legislature since 2007.

He is counsel to the New York State’s Civil Service and Pension Committee and serves on the Civic Center, Law, and Court Facilities and Conservation and Improvement Committees in the legislature.

He is a former town prosecutor in Guilderland and served on the Guilderland Zoning Board of Appeals and the Environmental Advisory Committee.

Clenahan has also worked in private practice with several local law firms and served as an Assistant Albany County Attorney.

“The pilot program is promising,” said Clenahan. “But, we need to look at prevention before these problems even crop up.”

The courts have been doing a great job, and the county needs to continue to support them, he said.

“The Department of Health has also been doing a really strong job in implementing their prevention programs and we need to continue to help them do their jobs, as well,” Clenahan said.

He said the county should keep an open mind to any shared services opportunities.

“We can pass real savings onto the taxpayers,” he said. “But, we want to look at each service individually to make sure we aren’t losing or reducing those that are available.”

The county needs to “greatly increase” outreach in the suburbs, he said.

“The idea that poverty is confined to cities is incorrect,” said Clenahan. “We need to make more people aware of the great deal of services provided countywide.”

He said he is already encouraging the Albany Community Action Partnership to increase its outreach.

“I fully support Soldier On and I know they are moving forward out there,” Clenahan said. “I think we should increase the role of the Veterans Department in the county to increase services and outreach.”

He said one of the things he worked on with the State Senate was the use of medical cannabis.

“I have met with many veterans who have found a real use in medical cannabis for the treatment of PTSD,” he said, of post-traumatic stress disorder. “I would like to try to find ways to make sure that treatment is available to veterans in the county and throughout the state.”

In January, he said, the governor will decide whether PTSD is a qualifying condition for medical marijuana treatment.

“We are trying to make sure veterans’ groups reach out to the state to communicate how important it can be for the treatment of PTSD,” he said.

Clenahan said he has never believed it is an “either-or” thing between the nursing home and in-home care.

“I believe both are absolutely vital and should be enhanced,” he said. “I truly feel the nursing home is necessary because there are patients who can’t afford private care.”

There are also patients whose needs are so great that, even if they could afford private care, it isn’t an option for them.

“That said, I strongly believe anyone who can get by at home with assistance should stay home,” he said. “It isn’t one or the other; they work together and we need to encourage both.”

He said he would support a local bill that would raise the minimum wage.

“It seems like the state might be moving toward an overall $15 minimum,” said Clenahan. “It will be interesting to see where it goes.”

He supports the revised charter.

“There are good things and improvements in there,” he said. “I was disappointed that there wasn’t a provision made for a non-partisan redistricting panel, but I will push that in my next term.”

The regulations the county has imposed on oil trains are important, he said.

“The county has a tremendous role to play,” said Clenahan. “We need to keep an eye on this process to keep our residents protected.”

The county wrote two proclamations to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, asking it to do a better analysis, he said.

“We need to press the state for greater oversight and protection,” said Clenahan.

He was the sponsor for two of the “nanny laws.”

“I don’t want to push nanny state legislation but I think we do have a role to protect our citizens, especially children,” he said. He sponsored the law banning toxic toys.

“It’s not being a nanny state, it’s empowering parents,” he said. “We are helping consumers and I think we need to be careful with the term nanny state.”

Clenahan said he is also proud to have been the prime sponsor of two local laws banning dumping waste from hydraulic fracturing.

“I don’t want our landfills and sewer treatment plants to be the dumping grounds for other states’ waste,” he said.

He is also working to crack down on illegal and abusive pet breeding.