RENSSELAERVILLE — Hébert Joseph, making his first run for public office in Rensselaerville, for assessor, said that, when he was campaigning in Medusa, a resident there told him, “You are the first black person who has ever run for office in Rensselaerville.”

Joseph told The Enterprise this week, “So, I say to the people of Preston Hollow, of Medusa, of Rensselaerville, you have a chance to make history.”

Joseph, who is 49, was born in Port au Prince, Haiti. He moved to Rensselaerville seven years ago because, he said, he likes rural life. He has lived in New York State for 17 years.

“I am a public servant,” he said, describing his work as a senior engineer for the New York State Department of Public Service/Public Service Commission. “We regulate all utilities within New York — electricity, water, telecommunications,” he said. “Our primary function is to ensure affordable services.”

He described his work for the commission as an engineer.  “When a utility files, they bring that into my office,” he said. “I look to see if the project is needed and if it is in the best interest of New York State.” Joseph can recommend for against a project. “A utility can challenge through litigation,” Joseph said, if he recommends against it.

Joseph is also a veteran of the United States Army. He served for seven years, until Nov. 17, 2001, being discharged two months after the Sept. 11 terrorists’ attacks, he said.

He decided to run for office in Rensselaerville, Joseph said, after being approached by residents of different political parties. He decided to run on his own party line — “my wonderful party, the Democratic party,” he said.

Before making the decision to run, Joseph said, “I spent time talking with friends, neighbors, mentors, and colleagues” — including Paul Tonko, he said. referring to the Democratic congressman for the Capital Region.

“I finally decided now is the time for me to run for this office,” he said. “I honestly believe there is a need for change in leadership in the assessor’s office. We as taxpayers need to know that everyone is being treated equally and fairly.”

Joseph believes that a town-wide revaluation of property is “absolutely, absolutely” needed. “My goal is to fight for a fair and equal tax system that will serve not one person’s interest but everyone’s interest,” he said.

He went on, “If I win, there will be no more nepotism … I will bring the open-door policy where taxpayers are not afraid to talk about the issues.”

Asked what evidence he has that nepotism exists in the current system, Joseph said, “The way I see it, if I am the assessor and you are my family, my father, my mother, you can get special treatment. That is not fair. That is not right.”

Joseph also maintains that there was damage done by Tropical Storm Irene in 2001, which is still not reflected in assessments for those properties. When Jeffry Pine, currently the chairman of Rensselarville’s Democratic Party, ran in 2013 for assessor, he made this a central part of his campaign, a claim he revived again in his 2015 run. Richard Tollner, now the head of Rensselaerville’s Republican Party, ran against Pine for assessor in 2015 and pointed out that Pine had been assessor in 2011 when the tropical storms Irene and Lee hit Rensselaerville.

If Joseph is elected assessor, he plans to get certified, and continue to run for the office in elections to come.

“My goal is to remain here, a resident of Rensselaerville the rest of my life and support my community,” he said. “I think they’ll have to drag my body out of here.”

He concluded, “I am honest. I am loyal  If I do not win, I will come back again for another election.”