By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — Cattaraugus County lawmakers welcomed a new legislator Wednesday, Brenda Hansen of Delevan.
Hansen, a political newcomer and a Republican, was nominated by Legislator Richard Helmich, R-Delevan, to succeed Legislator Michael Briskly, who resigned Aug. 18 to accept appointment as deputy county administrator.
Hansen becomes the third Republican county legislator in District 2 from Delevan, joining Helmich and Joseph Boberg.
Ginger Schroder, R-Farmersville, the other District 2 legislator, was named by the all Republican legislature to succeed Brisky as vice chairman. Share was nominated by Kelly Andreano, R-Olean, the majority leader who some had seen as a possible candidate to succeed Brisky as vice chairman.
Under the rules of the county legislature, as vice chairman, Schroder also becomes Finance Committee chairman. She said she plans to continue her duties as longtime chairman of the Labor Relations Committee.
After the meeting, Schroder looked around at her colleagues, calling them “My legislative family. We work so well together as a team. There are a lot of things coming to our plate. There are some hard decisions ahead” due to state and federal budget cuts.
“I am profoundly humbled,” Schroder said. “I will do my best. I like to lead through listening and collaborating.”
County Administrator Kelly J. Reed and her team, including Brisky, are already deep into the tentative 2026 county budget, which won’t be submitted until the day after the fall election.
Reed said she wanted to get an early start on the budget due to the retirement of former county administrator Jack Searles at the end of June
Schroder says she hopes to get up to speed quickly on budget preparations. Legislative leaders generally give the budget director (county administrator) a target when it comes to tax increases. The legislature has not exceeded the 2% property tax limit since it was implemented by the state
Hansen said she was a stay at home mom and a teacher who became interested in local government in 2020, just in time for Covid-19. “Covid reinvigorated me,” she said. She began attending town and school board meetings when they opened up again.
That led her to author a 2021 petition asking the county legislature to name Cattaraugus County a Constitution County, which was approved. “That got me interested in the legislature. Local government is neglected. I wanted to be part of government where I could make an impact.”
Hansen said she plans “to get my feet wet and learn the ropes and serve where needed.”
Legislature Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, has not announced which committees Hansen will serve on. Her appointment is through the end of Brisky’s four-year-term, which is Dec. 31, 2027.
Hansen said as she travels Route 16 between Delevan and Olean every day, she sees people and stories in the little towns of Franklinville, Ischua and Hinsdale. “Cattaraugus County is a very special place to me.”
Schroder and Hansen were each administered the oath of office by Cattaraugus County Court Judge Ronald Ploetz.
IN OTHER NEWS, legislators agreed to set public hearings on two local laws — one to extend the county’s additional 1% sales tax and the second to extend the county’s additional 25-cent per $100 mortgage recording tax.
Neither is a new tax, said Burr, the sponsor. Both are extensions of existing taxes, he said. The additional 1% sales tax was first enacted in 1986. Each proposed local law will be the subject of public hearings at 5 p.m. on Sept. 10 in the James J. Snyder Legislative Chambers.
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