POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Poughkeepsie Councilman Tracy Hermann's sudden death left a vacant seat on the city council and now his husband plans to fill it.
"My heart was broken and for me it's a way to stay connected to him and connected to the people in the city he loved," said Hermann's husband Matthew McNamara.
And that's what Tracy Hermann's husband Matthew McNamara plans to do when he is officially sworn in Monday as Poughkeepsie's new 8th ward councilman.
"The council will be having a special meeting to vote on the appointment of Tracy’s husband Matt to serve for the remainder of the year,” said Poughkeepsie City Council Chairman Chris Petsas.
Hermann died earlier this month at the age of 52 and the city council had a 30 day window to fill his vacancy. McNamara and the couple's daughter Roxie are still dealing with aftermath of Hermann's sudden death.
"I'm still absolutely devastated from his sudden passing and the trauma of just losing him so suddenly. It was absolutely heartbreaking for myself and my daughter and for so many members of the 8th ward," McNamara said.
However, council leaders and members thought McNamara would be a perfect replacement.
"All of us are very excited to have him part of our family," Petsas said.
McNamara says he wants to continue Hermann's legacy.
"Working with the school system, working with the board of education were key in his goals and I really wish to continue them and I really want to make sure his legacy and his voice continues,” McNamara said. He also wants move forward with plans to develop an arts commission in Poughkeepsie.
The draping over Hermann's old seat will be removed on Monday in preparation for McNamara's swearing in.
"This is the transition that has to happen. Sad but you know we'll have a new councilperson representing that ward," Petsas said.
McNamara says he while he's filling the seat temporarily, he plans to run to fill it permanently during a special election in November.
“I would be honored to continue Tracy's work. Tracy loved Poughkeepsie, he had such hopes and dreams for Poughkeepsie and he really from the moment we moved here he saw the potential of Poughkeepsie," McNamara said.