Niagara County leaders elected to NYSAC leadership positions during fall seminar

Submitted by the Niagara County Public Information Office

Niagara County Legislator Jeff Elder was elected to represent District 8 on the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) board of directors.

Following the election of Dr. Kevin Watkins as president of NYSAC, county leaders at the association’s fall seminar in Onondaga County elected four additional officials to leadership positions: The Hon. Margaret (Meg) M. Kennedy of Otsego County was elected president elect; Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus was elected first vice president; Chautauqua County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr. was elected second vice president; and Elder was elected to represent District 8 on the NYSAC board of directors.

The newly elected leaders will help guide NYSAC’s advocacy, education and training efforts as the association works to strengthen county government and advance the priorities of counties across New York.

“NYSAC is strongest when county leaders from different regions, backgrounds, and areas of expertise come together around our shared commitment to public service,” Watkins said. “Each of these exceptional leaders bring valuable experience and perspective to our association, and I look forward to working alongside them as we continue to unite the voice of county government across New York state.”

NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, “Our strength as an association comes directly from the county officials who step forward to serve and share their experience on behalf of their colleagues across the state. These leaders understand firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing county governments, and their insight will be invaluable as NYSAC continues to advocate on behalf of New York’s counties and the residents they serve.”

Kennedy represents the 5th District on the Otsego County Board of Representatives, where she has served since 2014. As vice chair of the board, she serves on the intergovernmental affairs committee. In addition to her public service, Kennedy operates a family-owned horticultural business and has served on the boards of the Otsego County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank.

Neuhaus has served as Orange County executive since 2014, becoming the county’s sixth executive since the office was established in 1970. A lifelong Orange County resident, Neuhaus is also a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve and has deployed twice on active duty while serving as county executive, including to Iraq in 2018 and Europe in 2022.

Wendel has served in the position since 2020, after previously serving eight years in the Chautauqua County Legislature. Before entering county government, Wendel worked in education as a physical education teacher and assistant principal. He serves on the board of directors of the County Executives of America, the New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal board of governors, and has been a volunteer firefighter with the Lakewood Volunteer Fire Department for more than three decades.

Elder has represented the 4th District on the Niagara County board since 2021. A Niagara Falls native and U.S. Air Force veteran, Elder served as a crewmember aboard Air Force One under presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, logging more than 6,000 flying hours during his military career. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Elder continued his public service in positions with the Pentagon, Federal Emergency Management Agency, New York State Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of State.

For more than 100 years, NYSAC has served as the unified voice of county government in New York. It represents county executives, administrators, legislators, supervisors, commissioners and other county officials from all 62 counties, including the five boroughs of New York City, advocating for county priorities and providing education, training, research and opportunities for collaboration among local leaders.