| Tom Walsh Seeks Re-Election to Legislature to Continue Focusing on Public Safety and Quality of Life |
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| Tuesday, 06 October 2009 00:00 |
Rensselaer County Legislators – Republican Legislative Campaign Committee News ReleaseDistrict 3: Thomas Walsh Sr.Towns of Brunswick, Pittstown and Schaghticoke
Walsh approved a 2009 county budget that did not raise taxes, and also helped bring about an upgrade in the county's credit rating. Walsh said he is proud of his record of protecting needed county services during difficult financial times. "I am very proud of the fact that we have kept taxes stable in recent years, and seen the county's financial ratings be upgraded during tough economic times. We also protected services for seniors, veterans and youths," said Walsh. As co-chairman of the Legislature's Public Safety Committee, Walsh has improved emergency communications, and helped oversee the state-ordered expansion of the county jail and worked to keep the project under budget. Walsh has joined his legislative colleagues Ken Herrington and Richard Salisbury in supporting a farmland protection plan that has protected more than 3,000 acres and calling for improved air monitoring in the county."Rensselaer County is a great place to live, and I have worked hard to protect quality of life and the health and safety of our residents," said Walsh. Walsh was felected to the Legislature in 1997 following service as Brunswick supervisor. As supervisor, Walsh was able to erase a $300,000 deficit he inherited, eventually generating a surplus. In working to protect public safety, Walsh draws on 28 years of service with the Army National Guard, where he retired as lieutenant colonel. Walsh also worked at the Watervliet Arsenal, where he retired as chief of manufacturing. A respect for the enormous contributions of veterans led to Walsh thirty years ago organizing a monument for Troy World War II Medal of Honor winners Lt. Col. William O'Brien and Sgt. Thomas Baker. When the monument was moved from the county, Walsh led an effort to return the monument, which is now being reassembled in the main lobby of the County Office Building. Walsh and his wife Diane are the parents of five children and grandparents of ten grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. (For more information regarding this news release, please call 928-1920) |
With a record of improving public safety and protecting quality of life in Rensselaer County, Vice Chairman of the Legislature Thomas Walsh Sr. announced he will seek re-election.