Schenectady County, NY elected officials: county legislators or supervisors, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Schenectady County: 18 seats on 4 elected bodies. 1 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County Legislature or Board of Supervisors

Schenectady County Legislature

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it now
County Legislator, District 2Gary Hughes Democratic source
County Legislator, District 3Cathy Gatta Democratic source
County Legislator, District 1Richard Ruzzo Democratic source
County Legislator, District 1Richard Patierne Democratic source
County Legislator, District 4Josh Cuomo Conservative source
County Legislator, District 3Michael Aragosa Democratic source
County Legislator, District 3Thomas Constantine Democratic source
County Legislator, District 3Peter Frisoni Conservative source
County Legislator, District 4Anthony Jasenski, Sr Democratic source
County Legislator, District 1Omar McGill Democratic source
County Legislator, District 4Eric Hess Republican source
County Legislator, District 2Raj Ishmael Democratic source
County Legislator, District 3Michelle Ostrelich Democratic source
County Legislator, District 2Haileab Samuel Democratic source
County Legislator, District 4Holly Vellano Conservative source

Official website

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County ClerkCara M. Ackerley sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
District AttorneyRobert M. Carney source
SheriffDominic Dagostino source

How many local governments Schenectady County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 33 local governments in Schenectady County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships (3 municipal, 5 township)80
School districts (school boards)60
Special districts (elected boards)180

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments (1 in Schenectady County), though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Schenectady County

160,369people
39.6median ageU.S.: 38.9
$79,623 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
13.3%below the U.S.: 12.5%
36.1%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$235,700median home valueU.S.: $332,700
5.8%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
10%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
5.3%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
3.1%U.S.: 8.4%
53.9%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
24%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 8.3% · White 67.7% · Black 9.6% · Asian 4.9% · Other or more than one race 9.5% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Schenectady County

4.0%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 3.9%. New York: 4.5%.
3,220people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
76,421people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
79,641in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Schenectady County 0.0%2.1%4.1%6.2%8.3% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)4.0%3,22076,42179,641
August 20264.2%3,36676,67280,038
July 20264.1%3,25076,65179,901
June 20263.9%3,05576,14279,197
May 20264.0%3,12575,53878,663
April 20263.8%3,01175,61378,624
March 20264.2%3,31175,75279,063
February 20264.6%3,61475,25378,867
January 20264.1%3,26175,39478,655
December 20253.6%2,83275,85178,683
November 20253.6%2,85476,44779,301
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20253.9%3,09375,60278,695
August 20254.2%3,27475,33878,612
July 20254.0%3,16776,09679,263
June 20253.5%2,78076,40079,180
May 20253.3%2,56075,51978,079
April 20253.1%2,44175,88378,324
March 20253.8%2,91374,62977,542
February 20254.2%3,23974,08377,322
January 20253.9%3,02974,14377,172
December 20243.4%2,62874,13076,758
November 20243.4%2,59674,64177,237
October 20243.4%2,60774,96777,574
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)3.7%2,92675,45478,380
20243.7%2,86074,73077,590
20233.4%2,66174,62077,281
20223.4%2,61973,51876,137
20215.1%3,84672,07075,916
20207.9%6,07571,10377,178
20193.7%2,86773,67876,545
20184.0%3,07973,03176,110
20174.5%3,43272,19375,625
20164.5%3,37772,16375,540

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. New York's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 4.3% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Schenectady County

343.9 per 100,0002025. New York: 368.4.
2,007.5 per 100,0002025. New York: 1,574.8.
7murders2025, 566 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
2025566343.93,3042,007.5
2024609371.43,7022,258.0
2023561347.83,6572,267.0
2022589369.33,9672,487.0
2020544352.43,2262,089.9
2018710464.83,8232,502.8
2017655423.03,8732,501.2
2016687447.53,9252,556.6
By police agency (6)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Schenectady Police Department20254891,93269,786
Rotterdam Town Police Department20253960731,096
Niskayuna Town Police Department20251347824,239
Glenville Town Police Department20251221722,440
Schenectady County Sheriff's Office20256149,687
Scotia Village Police Department20257567,336

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in New York · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.90 per 1,000 residents2025, 6 agencies serving 164,584 people.
312sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
31civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (6), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Schenectady Police Department1652269,786
Rotterdam Town Police Department44231,096
Niskayuna Town Police Department31324,239
Schenectady County Sheriff's Office3309,687
Glenville Town Police Department25322,440
Scotia Village Police Department1417,336
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20253121.90316
20243051.86366
20232901.80426
20222771.74386
20212711.70346
20202741.78386
20172571.66396
20162591.69396

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Schenectady County County Clerk?
Cara M. Ackerley is the County Clerk of Schenectady County, New York. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Schenectady County District Attorney?
Robert M. Carney is the District Attorney of Schenectady County, New York.
Who is the Schenectady County Sheriff?
Dominic Dagostino is the Sheriff of Schenectady County, New York.
Who are the Schenectady County commissioners?
Gary Hughes (County Legislator, District 2); Cathy Gatta (County Legislator, District 3); Richard Ruzzo (County Legislator, District 1); Richard Patierne (County Legislator, District 1); Josh Cuomo (County Legislator, District 4); Michael Aragosa (County Legislator, District 3); Thomas Constantine (County Legislator, District 3); Peter Frisoni (County Legislator, District 3); Anthony Jasenski, Sr (County Legislator, District 4); Omar McGill (County Legislator, District 1); Eric Hess (County Legislator, District 4); Raj Ishmael (County Legislator, District 2); Michelle Ostrelich (County Legislator, District 3); Haileab Samuel (County Legislator, District 2); Holly Vellano (County Legislator, District 4).
What is the population of Schenectady County?
About 160,369 people, with a median age of 39.6; the median household income is $79,623 and 13.3% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Schenectady County?
4.0% in September 2026 (preliminary): 3,220 people unemployed in a labor force of 79,641, against 3.9% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Schenectady County?
33 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 3 municipal, 5 township, 6 school district and 18 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from each county's own website (its legislature, elected-officials and board of elections pages and rosters); in New York City, the City Council's member list and the NYC Board of Elections' certified 2023 and 2025 results; officials appointed since a page was posted may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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