Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher (Republican) 1600 Seventh Avenue Troy, New York 12180 Phone (518) 270-2880 Fax (518) 270-2983 E-mail - nkelleher@rensco.com District One - City of Troy

Neil Kelleher has dedicated his efforts in public service to helping the residents of Troy and Rensselaer County. Neil was first elected as a representative of Troy in the Rensselaer County Legislature in 1989, and elected Chairman of the Legislature in 1995. He has been elected to serve as Chairman of the Legislature three times, a feat no other legislator has ever accomplished this.

During Neil’s service as Chairman, the county has received an A+ bond rating and maintained a tax rate in the bottom third of counties across New York State. The county also completed the improvement of county court facilities, including the historic County Court House, a project that won widespread praise for Rensselaer County. Needed services for seniors, veterans and youths were protected during the adoption of recent county budgets.

With Neil as Chairman, the county also completed construction of the new Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home in 1996; the Manor is regarded as one of the finest senior care facilities in New York State. The county also undertook the most comprehensive effort to improve county roads during Neil’s chairmanship, and Neil worked with state and county leaders to secure an Empire Zone to help boost economic development efforts in the county.

Increasing public access to the Legislature has been a focus of Neil’s work as Chairman. At his direction, cable television broadcasts of legislative meetings were started, a second monthly public comment session added, and a legislative website established to provide residents with updates and opportunities to contact legislators. In 2005, Neil initiated a review of the County Charter and Rules of the Legislature to develop new ways to expand public access to the Legislature.

Neil has also put his fiscal conservative policies to work, generating a savings each year in the operations of the Legislature. As Chairman, he has protected tens of millions of needed sales tax revenue for the City of Troy and maintained good working relations with elected officials throughout the state and county.

Neil has been recognized by many organizations throughout his career; Certificate of Appreciation from Concerned Citizens for the Environment, Hudson Valley Community College’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2001 Alumni Honor Roll of the State University of New York for Outstanding Professional Achievement, Friends of 112^th Street “Man of the Year”, Lincoln Award by the Brunswick Republican Committee, and Exemplary Service Award by the East Greenbush Republican Committee.

Neil is a lifelong resident of Troy and is employed as a supervisor at the Physical Plant of Hudson Valley Community College. He resides in Lansingburgh and is the father of one son, C.W.