Committee Assignments: Public Safety (Chair), Social Services and Health (Deputy Chair)

Prior Committee Assignments: Public Works (Chair), Civic Center, Personnel, Health, Audit & Control, Public Information and Civil Defense

Gilbert F. Ethier, who won reelection to his eighth term in 2007, has represented the 19th Legislative District in the Albany County Legislature since 1980. His district covers the northern portion of the City of Cohoes, with Columbia Street as its southernmost border, and the northeast corner of the Town of Colonie.

During his tenure as Chair of the Public Works Committee, Gil advocated for legislation supporting scheduled maintenance and reconstruction programs for County roads, bridges, highway shoulders, drainage ditches and guard rails which make up the County's 300-mile highway network.  He also supported the Public Works Department's efforts to increase efficiency through implementation of a snow and ice control plan during difficult Northeast winters and supported improvements along the seven-mile stretch of the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Trail.

Among his other major accomplishments are securing County support for Cohoes in its efforts to promote commercial revitalization of the downtown area and relocating the Sheriff's Department Emergency Operations Center from downtown Albany to offices at 75 Remsen Street in Cohoes.

He is a member of the Advocacy Steering Committee of the Mohawk Towpath Trail Scenic Byway Project, an appointment that reflects his support of the Mohawk Valley Heritage Corridor Commission's efforts to incorporate the proposed trail in the national scenic byway program. He believes the inclusion of Cohoes Falls, the Harmony Mills factories and other points of interest in the City of Cohoes will add to the scenic, recreational and historic value of the proposed trail.

A lifelong resident of Cohoes, Gil has been active in community affairs. He is chair of the Cohoes City Democratic Committee. He served as President of the Cohoes High School Men's Association promoting sports activities, is a former member of the Athletic Board of Cohoes Catholic Schools and is a volunteer worker at the Cohoes Community Center. A retired Ford Motor Co. employee at the Green Island plant, he is a member of and former representative for the United Auto Workers Local 930. He also is a member of the Knights of Columbus Cohoes Council, the Order of the Moose of Cohoes and has been active with the children of the community as a Little League manager and Pop Warner organizer.

He and his wife, Barbara, are the parents of four children.