Albany County Executive Mike Breslin has announced today that he will not be seeking re-election and his current term will expire on December 31, 2011.
Serving as Albany County Executive has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, Breslin said in a press release. `I look forward to fulfilling my commitment to the voters of Albany County by serving through 2011. We’ve made government more open, professional, transparent and accountable with a focus on public service. Over the course of my tenure, I have accomplished what I set out to accomplish and now it is time to move on to new challenges and opportunities.`
Breslin was appointed Albany County Executive in January of 1995 and was elected to his first full term in November 1995.
The press release lists some of the achievements Breslin has accomplished during his term such as expanding support for seniors and individuals with disabilities wanting to remain in their community with a home and community based services model. He also implemented several shared services to work with municipalities aimed at making government work more efficiently.
During his time in office, Breslin created the Department for Children, Youth and Families in 2001. This was meant to consolidate the delivery of services for at-risk children.
UPDATE:
The Spotlight
just got off the phone with Breslin as he does his marathon of interviews with the press today. He said he is happy with what the county has been able to accomplish over the past 16 years and said he feels he has done a lot of positive things, which is something he aims to continue.
`I want to make sure the legacy continues,` he said of finishing out his term. `Through the next 8 months, I look forward to those challenged, particularly during these times, the bad economic times.`
Breslin said he has no specific plans on what he would like to do after finishing out his term in office. He said he would still like to be involved in the community, but he’s not sure in whether it would be in a public or private manner.
He did say, however, that he has not looked into possibly running for office in the state legislature.
`No, it’s not something I’ve explored,` he said. `I’m very much impressed with what Cuomo [Gov. Andrew Cuomo] has already done.`
There would be multitude of advice Breslin said he could give the next county executive. But he would make sure to tell that person to continue the path he has paved.
`I think first and foremost that there’s a lot of wonderful people working in county government that are doing a great job,` he said. `They need to make sure we can continue to do that so we can serve people the best way possible.`
Breslin said he thinks the residents of Albany County will remember the work the county government has done during his tenure and that they will ask of the next county executive to do the same.
`I think those people who are in county government recognize the difference in how it functions now,` he said. `I’m confident they will retain that commitment to all those ideals. I think the public will demand it.`
UPDATE x2:
Newly elected Albany County Republican Chairman Don Clarey said that he had been hearing rumors for months that Breslin would not be running again, so it wasn’t a surprise when the news broke.
Breslin was not the strongest executive, Clarey said, adding that the Democratic party had significant internal issues that reflected in his tenure.
`His heart was in the right place,` he said. `From a policy point of views, taxes are going up, but I realize a lot of that is mandate driven.`
Clarey said he would give Breslin an incomplete for his time in office since he has a few months left, but said at this point he would give him a C.
`It’s been an honest government,` he said. `I think that in itself should be his legacy.`
Former GOP Chairman John Graziano Sr. said that he also had hear rumors of Breslin stepping down and said he hopes he enjoys his retirement.
`My interactions with him have always been genuine,` he said. `I wish him luck.`
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