POESTENKILL — Keith Hammond is running for his fourth term representing District 2 on the Rensselaer County Legislature.

“People ask, ‘Why do you want to be in government?’ The answer from almost every politician is, ‘I want to lower your taxes, streamline government and improve your services.’ Those are very important goals, I agree,” said Hammond. “But it's also important to respond to the phone calls from people in your community who need your help.”

The father of six children who were raised in the district, Hammond grew up in Poestenkill and graduated from Averill Park High School and the state University College at Cobleskill. He owned Hammond Family Farm for 20 years and currently is employed by the Averill Park School System.

In addition to his experience on the Legislature, Hammond served two terms on the Poestenkill Town Board and was deputy highway superintendent. He was also a member of the Poestenkill Planning Board, Master Plan Committee and Business Association.

In addition to his official roles, Hammond has served on the Albany-Rensselaer County Agricultural Education Committee, the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board and the Adoption and Foster Parents Association board.

He is running with incumbent legislators Brian Zweig, Kevin Harrington and newcomer Phil Malone on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines against newcomers Leon Fiaco, Phil Danaher, Lous Desso and Michael Cristo who have secured the lines of the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.

District 2 includes the towns of East Greenbush, North Greenbush and Poestenkill.

— James V. Franco