Former state Agriculture and Markets commissioner Darrel Aubertine is endorsing Waddington Town Supervisor Alex Hammond for the 116th District State Assembly seat.

Darrel Aubertine represented New York's 48th State Senate district from 2008 to 2010, and New York's 118th Assembly district from 2003 to 2008. He then served as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets from April 2011 to October 2013.

“I endorse Alex Hammond for the New York Assembly. During his time as Waddington’s Town Supervisor, Alex has proven that he carries a crucial skill: the ability to work across the aisle to bring results to the North Country. I am endorsing Mr. Hammond because I believe the North Country has been underrepresented in Albany, and he is the candidate who is going to turn that around with bipartisanship. I hope you can join me in supporting Alex Hammond for NY Assembly," Aubertine said in a prepared statement from the Hammond campaign.

“Having grown up following Mr. Aubertine during his time in office, I can say that he has been very inspiring for me, and has set an example for what it takes to be a hard-working representative who goes to work for the North Country. I am honored to receive his endorsement," Hammond said in a prepared statement from his campaign.