ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - The Tompkins County legislature made history by electing a person of color as its chairperson. Leslyn McBean-Clairborne was selected by a vote of nine to five.
McBean-Clairborne was first elected to the legislature in 2001. In 2006 she served as its vice chair.
During Tuesday night's meeting McBean-Clairborne, a Democrat, earned the support of all three Republicans in the Legislature.
After the vote, she said her election is evidence that the legislature is not color-blind and respects what members of working families can contribute in elected office.
McBean-Clairborne has lived in Ithaca for over 25 years and is originally from Guyana in South America.