Perinton resident Kara Halstead is the new County Legislator for Monroe County's 18th District.
Legislature President Joe Carbone appointed her to fill the vacant seat, which covers parts of East Rochester and Perinton, last week. Monroe County Republican Committee chair Bill Reilich submitted her nomination on the party's behalf.
The seat had been held by Republican Tanya Conley, who resigned after accepting a court attorney referee job with the New York State court system.
Halstead is senior administrative director at the University of Rochester Faculty Group and a former ADA compliance officer for the county. She'll serve the district for the remainder of Conley's term and she's running for a full term in the November election.
Her opponent then will be Perinton Democrat John Baynes, an English teacher who retired from the Fairport district after 39 years and who now teaches at Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women.
All 29 County Legislature seats — each with a two-year term — are up for election this year. Republicans currently hold 17 of the seats.