Less than halfway through her second term as deputy supervisor in the Town of Colonie, Nancy Hernandez is stepping down to take a job at the New York State comptroller’s office.
“I think the timing was just right because I feel I’m leaving the town in great hands, in a positive state,” said Hernandez. “It saddens me to have to step down but I know that things will continue running the way they area, positive and progressive.”
The Thursday, April 19, Town Board meeting will be Hernandez’s last but it won’t be the last the town has seen or heard of her.
“Even though I’m stepping down, I’m still going to stay actively involved because I’m a strong believer in volunteering within the community and the church,” said Hernandez.
The Town Board must appoint a replacement. There will be interviews on Sunday, April 22.
“Our executive committee will vote on a recommendation to give to the full committee, then give it to the Town Board and ultimately the Town Board will decide who they want to put on there,” said Chairman Richard Jacobson.
Community volunteerism is what planted the seed for Hernandez’s 2007 election run, which proved successful.
“I got involved with my neighbor who’s a politician and helped him, saw what it took to run a good effective government. … When it was time for a new election, I thought ‘Why not?’ It was a leap of faith,” said Hernandez.
She said she wants to thank the residents who voted her back into office again in 2011.
“I think people saw how I was passionate about what I believed and where I saw this town going,” said Hernandez. “… They trusted me to carry out the tasks I accomplished, that we did as a team.”
The town has made positive progress over the past several years, said Hernandez, and she pegs responsible budgets as one of the biggest indicators of that.
“If everyone steps back I think they can see the good we’ve done,” said Hernandez. “We are fiscally stable today, our budget is really good. We had to make sacrifices but who hasn’t? To e able to offer lowered property taxes with the economic downturn really speaks loudly about this administration.”
Hernandez said she’s also proud of improving safety within the town, specifically getting a sex offenders law passed, and increased government transparency.
“It may sound cliché but at any time you can ask us any questions, you can request any information and it’s there for you. It’s truly an open government, it is your right,” said Hernandez.
Growth within the town has boomed in recent years after the planning process was streamlined and Hernandez said she expects it to continue.
“There is growth going on. These projects, (they’re) being done right,” said Hernandez. “It’s responsible growth going on. … There’s still more area we’re looking at to say we want to see growth there too.”
Each accomplishment that holds personal meaning for her was done as part of a larger team, she said.
“It’s a team but as an individual I’m proud to be part of that,” said Hernandez.
She has two pieces of advice for her predecessor: be open-minded and remember who you’re serving.
“Keep an open mind, be fair, listen to all sides and put your feelings aside because this is not about you, it’s about the people,” said Hernandez. “Address the immediate issues. … hear it and address it.”
