To the Editor:

I am running for re-election in the 32nd Albany County Legislative District in Guilderland. As a lifetime resident of Guilderland, I know our community, understand the issues, and I am a hands-on county legislator who has worked tirelessly for you to get results and I would like to continue to do this for the next four years.

Some examples of my work for our 32nd District are as follows. I have attended many planning board and common council meetings at both the county and city level and spoke along with neighbors in opposition to the proposed development on Loughlin Street/Sandidge Way. I worked with the residents of the Weatherfield neighborhood and Assemblywoman Pat Fahy to address the effect of an unfair equalization rate assigned by New York State to the town of Guilderland in 2017.

I obtained grants for the Guilderland Seniors to help offset the cost of their bus trips. I also obtained a legislative grant for the McKownville Fire Department and worked with the state to get the crosswalk with crossing buttons on Western Avenue at the McKownville firehouse to improve the safety for our pedestrians.  

I have been very supportive of working families over my term as legislator. Protecting the health of our county residents is extremely important to me I have introduced and was successful in getting enacted into law three bills to protect the health of the residents of our county and help to reduce the prevalence of smoking among our youth as follows: Raise the age of tobacco sales to 21, smoke-free county parks and prohibiting the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies.

I received the Tobacco Free Champion Award from the Capital District Tobacco-Free Communities organization for this work. I supported the fight for nurses’ safe staffing, the Fight for 15, single-payer health care at the state level, and I walked many union picket lines throughout the area.

I have served our community in various ways; as a volunteer firefighter with the North Bethlehem Fire Department for over 50 years, inclusive of many years in line-officer positions and six years as district chief.

I have served nine years as a volunteer member of the Albany County Fire Advisory Board, three years as a member of the Albany County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Committee, and as a volunteer with Western Turnpike Rescue Squad for seven years. I also volunteer at the Sister Maureen Joyce Soup Kitchen and the Captain John McKenna Military Courtesy room at the Albany International Airport.

As an Albany County legislator I have served on the following committees: Elder Care, Audit and Finance, Personnel, Mass Transit, Public Works, and Public Safety for which I am currently the chair.  I hope you will vote for me in the Democratic primary on June 25 so I can continue working for you for another four years.

Paul Miller

Albany County Legislator

Guilderland