Rensselaer County Legislature fills vacant seat

TROY -- Charles “Chuck” Peter of Schodack was was sworn in as the newest member of the Rensselaer County Legislature at the June 12 meeting.

Peter joins the Republican majority, filling the vacancy created by the election of Assemblyman Jake Ashby to the 107^th Assembly District seat in April.

Peter, 33, represents the Legislature’s District 4, which includes the viillages of Castleton-on-Hudson, Nassau and East Nassau and the towns of Nassau, Schodack, and Sand Lake. The district’s other representatives are Legislators Robert Loveridge and Scott Bendett.

Peter and his wife, Cathleen, have two daughters Emma, 4, and Lily, 2. He is a lifelong Schodack resident, growing up on the family dairy farm, Peter’s Dairy Farm. He is a graduate of Maple Hill High School and attended Hudson Valley Community College before working full-time on the family farm. He also serves on the Schodack Board of Education.

Peter will run in November to fill the remaining three years of the four-year term.

In addition to the 4^th District seat, the Legislature also will see a race to fill the 1^st District seat held by Legislator Edward Manny, D-Troy, who recently died.  County Republicans anticipate former City Councilwoman Kim Ashe-McPherson will be appointed to the fill the vacancy. County Democrats said Friday they believe Troy Democratic Chairwoman Carole Weaver is the prime candidate to run for the remaining three years of the term.