We are planning to regularly highlight elected officials (primarily local officials) for their contributions to the public good. This week, we start with one of our own Jeff McDonald. Jeff is currently the youngest member of the Schenectady County Legislature and is one of the youngest ever elected in its history.
Jeff McDonald is the co-owner of the Stockade Inn in Schenectady. This business has been a very successful part in the resurgence of Schenectady’s downtown. The Stockade Inn, under Jeff's co-ownership, has won a Chamber of Commerce award, the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation Building Block Award, and the TD Banknorth Business of the Year Award. But this is just one example of the great businesses Jeff and his family own in the city. The well-known the downtown pub Pinhead Susan’s is another example. Also important to note, all of the McDonald family’s projects have been privately financed without any public assistance.
As if running a hugely sucessful business wasn't accomplishment enough, Jeff was recently elected with a large margin as a District 2 represenative member to the County Legislature. Despite his relative youth, Jeff immediately became chair of its Public Facilities Committee and Vice-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee. A magna cum laude graduate of Northeastern University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, Jeff is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York State and brings that critical perspective to the Legislature. His youth and enthusiasm bring a unique perspective and energy to his work that have quickily earned him the respect of his collegues.
Beyond his role with the Legislature, Jeff is member of the City of Schenectady Industrial Development Agency board. In this role, he has worked to help create a better atmosphere for businesses in Schenectady.
Jeff, a lifetime resident of Schenectady County, is committed to continuing that revitalization while reducing the tax burden on residents. He understands that young people cannot afford the high tax burden and are moving out of the county. To solve this problem, he argues that the tax levy must be drastically reduced by both increasing the commercial tax base and decreasing expenses. Jeff's goals as a legislator are to encourage residency in depressed areas of the city by offering legislative incentives, provide additional support to the city from the county to help reduce taxes and fight crime, reform the abuses of social services, and to eliminate waste in government by consolidation of services.
The turnaround in Schenectady County came through Democratic leadership. It came because of a strong focus on unified economic development which Republicans neglected for years. Jeff McDonald continues that tradition and, at 28, he is the very definition of the important role young Democrats can play in shaping the future of our County.
