LITTLE VALLEY — Brenda Hanson, a teacher from Delevan, has been appointed to the Cattaraugus County Legislature to represent District 2, filling the vacancy of Michael Brisky, who resigned.

Hanson was sworn in Wednesday, Aug. 27 with a unanimous vote of approval from the 14 other county legislators.

Brisky, a Franklinville resident first elected to the legislature in 2019, has taken the position of Deputy Administrator of Cattaraugus County under Kelly Reed.

Hanson, a math and science teacher at Central Baptist Christian School in Yorkshire, said she’s looking forward to being part of a team that does great things in Cattaraugus County.

“I love this county. This is my home,” she told the Times Herald. “I’m completely dedicated to doing the very best that I can for the people of this county.”

No stranger to the workings of local government, Hanson has also done freelance reporting for a local newspaper, attending various town and school board meetings in the northeastern communities of the county. She said she was also part of the “We the People” group that worked on a petition for the Constitutional County resolution passed by the legislature in 2021.

“My experience would be a little less formal,” she said, but still familiar with what the county does and can do for its residents. “I’m excited and privileged and honored, and I look forward to being a part of the legislature.”

Brisky takes over the deputy administrator position previously held by Reed, who began as county administrator June 29 upon the retirement of John “Jack” Searles.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to have been elected and to have served in this capacity representing the residents of Cattaraugus County, and in particular, the residents of the District in which I reside,” Brisky wrote in his resignation letter. “I look forward to working alongside Kelly, the Legislature and all County staff in that role.”

Brisky told the Times Herald Wednesday that he’s happy to serve as deputy administrator and greatly enjoyed his time in the legislature, saying it was a pleasure to serve the residents of District 2 and all of the county.

“I think we did a lot of good work together,” he said. Of his new role, Brisky added, “I’m two weeks on the job and it’s been a lot of fun. A learning experience from a different perspective, but I think we’ll be able to do a lot of good things.”

With Brisky’s resignation, Ginger Schroder, also a District 2 legislator from Farmersville, was appointed Vice Chair with unanimous legislature approval.

Schroder said she is profoundly humbled and amazed by the confidence her fellow legislators have in her to fill the vice chair role, especially since many of them could have just as easily been able to do it, she added.

“I know that it’s not a very easy job, and I have some pretty big shoes to fill with Mr. Brisky being gone,” Schroder said Wednesday. “I think we have an amazing team here with the legislature, our department heads, leadership in the legislature and I have confidence in them.”

Ginger Schroder is sworn in by Judge Ronald D. Ploetz as the new vice chair of the Cattaraugus County Legislature, taking over for Michael Brisky, who resigned.