District 23: Paul J. Burgdorf

Paul J. Burgdorf was elected to his first term in the Albany County Legislature in November 2015 to represent the 23rd District. The 2023 revised district, which takes effect in 2024, encompasses parts of Latham, Loudonville, and Colonie. The district has parts of both the North Colonie and South Colonie school districts and includes the Crossings of Colonie. Neighborhoods and major roads in the district include parts of Albany Shaker Road, Maxwell Road, Old Niskayuna Road, Loudon Road, and Watervliet Shaker Road.

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In January 2018 and January 2019, Paul made Albany County history by becoming the first Republican Chairman of the Legislature’s Public Works Committee.

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Paul is the Republican Deputy Minority Leader of the Legislature, and serves on the Audit and Finance, Law, and Public Works Committees. He continues to be a critical leading voice on the ongoing revitalization of multiple major roads in his district, including the current major improvement project along Watervliet Shaker Road.

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Paul has helped lead the charge on bi-partisan measures with legislative leadership and the Albany County Sheriff to improve cellular coverage in Latham and Loudonville, a critical problem which has begun to be addressed thanks to the recent construction of a new cell tower, as well as more upcoming cellular infrastructure in the Town of Colonie. Paul continues to work with Supervisor Peter Crummey to address the many existing cellular dead zones in Latham and Loudonville.

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As a staunch advocate for taxpayer dollars, Paul was proud to support a 2023 budget which cut residential property taxes in Albany County by nearly 8%. Paul has also not voted for a single tax increase since he came into office, and the property tax rate has been reduced by more than 18% during that time.

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Paul has been an outspoken advocate for improving public safety throughout his tenure, recently working alongside his colleagues to co-sponsor the DISCOVER Program. This important legislation targets illegal guns by creating an anonymous illegal gun tip hotline and county-sponsored gun buyback program. It also provides pistol safety training and free gun locking devices for legal gun owners. The measure passed with unanimous bi-partisan support, and will help fight the alarming rise in illegal gun violence across Albany County.

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Paul has been involved with major legislative initiatives to support law enforcement, retain and recruit volunteer firefighters and EMS first responders; protect the environment through open space conservation; construct the new Shaker Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Home; and further smart economic development efforts to create new jobs, like at the Plug Power headquarters in Latham.

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Paul has been vocal in his advocacy for more transparency in the Legislature, including modernizing the operation of the legislature and updating antiquated rules. He was part of a “paperless legislature” project, which led to a major digital modernization of the Legislature.

Paul is an unequivocal voice against Executive Overreach from the state, including the overriding of local zoning laws which threaten home rule, the misguided bail “reforms” which have led to a spike in crime, and the interception of Medicaid funding critical to Albany County property tax rates. He will always be a strong defender of Colonie and the suburbs.

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Paul has lived in the district he represents for almost 40 years. It is here he and his wife Jane raised their family and supported many youth, senior, civic, and philanthropic organizations. He is a graduate of SUNY Albany (BA) and has a distinguished executive career in public service that includes association management in the New York State construction industry, staff leadership in the NYS Senate, and senior management of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York and the Town of Colonie. Paul was elected to four terms as Councilman in the Town of Colonie, which included service as Deputy Supervisor. Through these various experiences, Paul became an expert in the local and state legislative process, solid waste management, municipal administration, finance and both public and private construction.