GOP minority leader might pursue teaching opportunities
For more than 15 years, Republican Robert Farley has sat on the Schenectady County Legislature, but come January, that seat will belong to someone else.
Farley announced Wednesday, May 4, he wouldn’t be seeking re-election after having held his District 3 Legislature seat since being first elected in 1993. He said his decision to not run again is based on personal reasons, and he doesn’t have any immediate plans to seek another elected position. Farley is currently the legislature’s minority leader, but he served as chairman when Republicans held the majority.
Farley said he would like to look into more teaching opportunities. He currently teaches one night a week at the University at Albany.
I only do it one night a week, but I love it, said Farley. `There is only so many hours in the day, and if you are going to do that, it is going to be hard to serve on the County Legislature.`
He said his family was happy to hear he wouldn’t be seeking another term or other political office. In the future, he said, he may be able to serve his constituents in a different way.
`When I did tell my children I wasn’t running, my youngest daughter came up to me and gave me a high five,` said Farley. `If I had any doubt of the decision, that helped me make it.`
He also didn’t express a solid intent to pursue his father, Sen. Hugh Farley’s, seat on the state Senate when the elder Farley eventually steps down. While it might be something he is interested in, he said, it wasn’t something that would happen in the near future.
Farley said he was honored to represent the residents of his district for so many years and thanked them for their support.
`The thing I am proudest of is trying to represent the community,` said Farley. `No one ever knows why you get elected, but I suspect one of the reasons why that may have been is because I listened to the district and I tried to be responsive to the citizens’ needs.`
County Republican Party Chairman Thomas Buchanan commended Farley for his years of service and said he was a strong advocate for his constituents. Buchanan said he was sorry to see Farley leave, but, echoing a comment Farley made, the departure gives a new face a chance to enter county government.
With Democrat Susan Savage, former chairwoman of the Legislature, also stepping down recently to accept a post in the governor’s administration, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding endorsements in District 3, which covers Scotia, Glenville and Niskayuna.
County Democratic Party Chairman Brian Quail said Cathy Gatta, a former Scotia Board of Trustees member appointed to Savage’s vacant seat, is planning to run in the upcoming election for the remaining two years of Savage’s term.
Buchanan said the County GOP should have their County Legislature endorsements for the upcoming election by the end of the month, with Quail responding similarly.
Farley thought a Republican would be able to attain his seat.
`I know there is a number of good candidates, and it was one of the reasons I felt I could make this decision at this point,` said Farley.“
