To the Editor:

With the Democratic primary coming up this Sept. 12, I urge voters to support Darrell Duncan for Albany County Legislator. Darrell was appointed on an interim basis to represent the 38th Legislative District last January when Mike Mackey took office in State Supreme Court; so Darrell already has been representing his constituents in the county legislature for the last eight months — and doing a great job!

Prior to taking legislative office, Darrell Duncan was the commissioner of the Albany County Department of Public Works for five years. Previously, he served as highway superintendent for the town of New Scotland for 18 years.

In these positions, he learned how important county services are to maintaining infrastructure such as our roads and bridges, and creating new amenities including the rail trail and Hilton barn, which has been preserved and relocated through close partnerships between town, county, and state governments.

If elected to serve the balance of this term in the 38th Legislative District, Darrell’s priorities will be on finishing construction of the rail trail, overseeing the much-needed state-funded improvements to the Albany County Nursing Home, implementing the county law that protects homeowners’ wells from pipeline drillers, and enforcing the “railroad quiet zone” in Voorheesville.

Darrell also plans to seek more resources for recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical services workers. He already has succeeded in getting legislation passed that directs $3,000 to this effort.

As a 37-year member of the Voorheesville Volunteer Fire Department, Darrell knows from firsthand experience how important it is to attract and keep good volunteers to provide crucial fire-fighting, lifesaving services for protection of our neighborhoods.

County government offers many programs outside of the public eye to meet the health and social-service needs of youth and the aging alike. Darrell will continue to work hard to support such programs as fighting drug abuse and facilitating home heating assistance and Meals on Wheels.

During the past eight months, Darrell Duncan has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to apply his more than 23 years of local governmental, administrative experience in carrying out the duties of his new job as an Albany County Legislator representing the needs of his constituents in the 38th Legislative District.  With Darrell Duncan, people come first.  He’s earned your vote!

Bob Prentiss

New Scotland