3:11
A former Albany County legislator has been appointed to serve on the body once again, until November.
Democrat Richard Touchette was sworn in May 10th to serve the rest of the year in the 37th District.
Touchette, a former Coeymans Town Board member, served on the legislature from 2015 to 2019 before being defeated by Republican George Langdon of Selkirk, who resigned under pressure after making homophobic comments March 27th at an event billed as a Return to Liberty under the Constitution, held at a bible camp in Voorheesville.
Langdon issued an apology afterward, but local lawmakers and LGBTQ advocates rallied in Albany and called on the first-term legislator to step down.
3:27
First-term Republican George Langdon is resigning from the Albany County Legislature after making homophobic comments late last month.
Bowing to mounting pressure, Langdon, of the 37th District, announced he would resign in a statement Monday. Langdon gave a speech on March 27th at an event billed as a Return to Liberty under the Constitution, held at a bible camp.
Albany County Legislative Chair, Democrat Andrew Joyce, was incredulous.
“From the moment I heard these comments, I knew Mr. Langdon was no longer fit to serve in the Albany County Legislature. Regardless of whether or not you are a Democrat or Republican, you are fully accountable to everybody in your district, ward, whatever you want to call it. The people who elected you, whether they voted for you or not, you know, they look to you for leadership and to be represented in the legislative body. And we talk about political gaffes and mistakes and being misunderstood. There was no misunderstanding Mr. Langdon�