ALBANY — The county legislature replaced former legislator George Langdon IV, who resigned last month after making anti-gay remarks, with the man he defeated in the 2019 election.
Richard Touchette was appointed Monday night by the Democrat-majority legislature to fill the District 37 seat, which represents Coeymans. Touchette, a Democrat, holds the seat until Dec. 31. An election will be held in November to determine who will fulfill the rest of Langdon’s term, which ends in 2023.
“I want to welcome Mr. Touchette back to the Albany County Legislature. It’s my hope that Rick will continue to reflect the fiscally sound, innovative ideals of our body, as he did when he served with us previously,” Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce said in a statement. “We will continue to drive bold, progressive and sound public policy that recognizes the importance of all our residents including the LGBTQ+ community, women and our Black and brown communities. It is our responsibility to build a sustainable future and create an inclusive environment for all of our residents and for future generations.”
Langdon, a Republican, resigned after a video of a “liberty” seminar held at Camp Pinnacle in the town of New Scotland on March 27 was posted to YouTube. Langdon spoke at the seminar.
“Everything God does is sustainable, it’s sustainable. It’s perpetual. … Sorry, when you have homosexual relationships, it’s not perpetual. Give them an island, they’ll be gone in 40 years. Because God created us this way,” Langdon said at the seminar.
The legislature was moving to censure Langdon, which was not a removal, when he decided to resign.
“I again express my sincerest apologies to all those who were hurt by my rash and thoughtless statements,” Langdon said in a statement April 5. “It was never my intention to single-out or target anyone. I truly believe every individual should have the right to life and liberty in their pursuit of happiness.”
Touchette served on the legislature from 2015 to 2019, and was a supporter of environmental policy that led to a Clean Air Law that prohibits waste burning and a law that instituted a countywide ban on polystyrene.
Both Touchette and Langdon also previously served on the Coeymans Town Board.
Touchette is the executive director of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.
