Public Offices
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Albany County Legislature | District 1 | 2020 - Present
Dr. Carolyn McLaughlin is currently serving her second term representing the residents of Albany County’s 1st Legislative District, after winning the 2019 election and her bid for re-election in 2023. Appointed to chair the Elder Care Committee for a second term, 2024 marks her inaugural tenure as a member of the Law Committee and Health Committee, and Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus. During her first term, Dr. McLaughlin also served on the Social Services Committee.
In her first term, Dr. McLaughlin successfully sponsored legislation to relieve the property tax burden placed on senior residents throughout Albany County. When asked about her priorities for her second term, McLaughlin says: “Along with my continued commitment to advocating for support to meet the needs of the elders of my community, I look forward to actively addressing the health disparities that exist in Albany.”
About District 1 | South End Albany: The First Legislative District encompasses parts of the first, second and seventh wards of Albany. The Historic South End, which consists of a 26-block area south of the City of Albany’s Mansion and Pastures neighborhoods, was recognized as a historic district and listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
City of Albany Common Council | 1998-2016
President, Albany Common Council: Bolstered by the legacy of history-making African Americans such as Congresswoman Barbara Jordan (Texas) and American activist Fannie Lou Hamer, who have strived to make democracy and equity a reality across our nation, Carolyn became the first African American President of the Albany Common Council in January 2010, serving two terms in this historical role ——from January 2010 through December 2016. As the demographics of the Capital District and nation continue to shift, Dr. McLaughlin deems it important that our community witness more “firsts” defining elected and appointed positions both locally and nationally.
Council Member, Second Ward: First elected in 1997, Carolyn served three terms representing the residents of Albany’s historic South End where she Chaired the Albany Common Council Housing and Community Development Committee for eight years. As Chair, she managed oversight of the Community Development Block Grant program to ensure equitable distribution of resources. In 2000, as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Dr. McLaughlin sponsored legislation to establish the City of Albany Citizens Police Review Board. In 2000, she co-sponsored a measure establishing a vacant building registry. In 2010, Carolyn played a key role in the establishment of the annual Common Council Black History Month Awards, which recognizes the contributions and achievements of one African American resident from each of the City’s 15 wards. During her 12-year tenure, she is most proud of her service as Chair of the South End Task Force (also known as the South End Action Committee), which resulted in the establishment of the Capital South Campus Center. The Campus Center quickly became the hub of community and educational development for Albany residents after opening in 2014. Carolyn sums up her time on the Common Council as the cornerstone of her passion for serving the people of Albany.
Albany County Democratic Committee | 1990-Present
Dr. Carolyn McLaughlin officially entered politics when she successfully petitioned for signatures to serve as a Committee Person for the Albany County Democratic Committee in 1990 – where she served as the point of contact and voice for the voters of the Fourth Ward and continued this role when she relocated to the Second Ward in 1994. While residing in the Second Ward, McLaughlin was elected by the Committee to serve as Ward Leader. She would later be appointed Secretary until being named Chair – serving in that role from 2014 through 2016. When reflecting on her rise to the position of Party Chair, Dr. McLaughlin says she never saw herself as serving in that role, where even today McLaughlin remains only one of two women to ever serve as Chair the Committee.