Schenectady loses another Democratic leader. Susan Savage announces she's resigning from the county legislature to take a position in the Cuomo Administration. But like former city mayor Brian Stratton before her, Savage says she's leaving Schenectady in better shape than when she got there. Our Solomon Syed reports.

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "The opportunity that I've had here has been tremendous and I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Former Schenectady County Legislative Chair Susan Savage reflects on the past: Fourteen years in the county legislature, the last seven as its leader, an experience that she says prepared her for her new job as Governor Cuomo's assistant deputy commissioner for the office of real property tax services.

"I think we've made a lot of progress," said Savage, "I think this is an area we can all be proud of."

The noticeable changes to downtown Schenectady are the highlight. Though Savage says that's just the wallpaper for a redevelopment plan that's helped create 3,500 new jobs, re-established the county's relationship with GE and lowered taxes four out of the last six years.

The facelift accounts for part of the reason the Cuomo administration also tapped former city mayor Brian Stratton to head the state's canal corporation.

"Schenectady County is a model of an upstate community that's changed its face, I think that's what the governor is looking for: New ideas," said Savage.

But losing two of its most influential leaders in one month opens a transition phase in Schenectady. Judy Dagostino, the legislative vice-chair, will take over as chair and admits she has some pretty big shoes to fill on State Street.

"Letting the legislature know that this hasn't changed," Dagostino says will be her toughest challenge. "There may be a new face sitting at the dais, but the policies and everything are going to be consistent."

Dagostino will serve as leader on an interim basis until the legislature selects a permanent chair on January 1st.

Meanwhile, Savage's vacant seat will also be filled by the legislature in the coming weeks until November, when the people will pick her replacement.