The Schenectady County Legislature voted tonight to appoint Rajnikant ‘Raj’ Ishmael to fill the vacancy created when Legislator Philip Fields resigned on December 31, 2024. Mr. Ishmael was sworn-in after the vote and will represent District 2 in the City of Schenectady for the remainder of the term, which expires December 31, 2025.
"We’re excited to welcome Raj as the newest member of the County Legislature, representing District 2 in the City of Schenectady," said Gary Hughes, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. "His background in state government and strong connections to our community will make him a tremendous asset to our team. Congratulations, Raj – we look forward to working with you to make Schenectady County an even better place to live, work, and raise a family."
Rajnikant ‘Raj’ Ishmael immigrated to the United States from Guyana with his parents in 2001 and settled in the City of Schenectady in 2002. A graduate of Schenectady High School, Raj earned a Master of Arts in International Relations from Norwich University in 2023. He currently serves as a Legislative Director in the New York State Assembly, where he works on legislation that impacts the community and assists constituents with legislative issues. In addition to his work in government, Raj is an entrepreneur and the owner of R&S Independent Auto Appraisals.
Raj volunteers at the Guyanese Community Center and has recently begun volunteering with Street Soldiers. He lives in the City of Schenectady with his wife, Shagufa.
Pursuant to the County Charter a special meeting must be called within 45 days of a vacancy occurring. During the special meeting the full legislature takes nominations and then votes to appoint someone to fill a vacancy.
Schenectady County Legislator Richard Ruzzo was appointed to fill the role of Deputy Chair of the Legislature, which was previously held by Legislator Fields.
“I’m honored to be appointed Deputy Chair and look forward to working alongside my colleagues in this new role to continue delivering results that strengthen our community and improve the lives of our residents,” said County Legislator Richard Ruzzo.