Albany County's Sheriff and Executive are formally announcing their campaigns for re-election today.

Democrats Sheriff Craig Apple and Executive Dan McCoy made thier joint announcement Sunday afternoon. Party unity was a major theme of the announcement.

Several elected local leaders all echoed the importance of the Democratic Party staying in power in the county. 

Sheriff Apple has been an outspoken voice about Kinimo Ngoran, the Capital City Rescue Mission's long time chef who was recently detained by ICE. Apple even tweeted at President Trump on Sunday, asking the President to call him about getting Ngoran released.

Immigration is just one of the divisive issues at the forefront of the next presidential election, and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Rep. Paul Tonko, who endorsed the pair, told a packed house that having democratic leaders at the county level can make a difference.

"In our nation's capital there is much chaos and there are messages sent to ordinary people like us working people, working families, immigrants, that are angry and are not reflective of our democratic and American values," Sheehan said.

Tonko echoed the sentiment.

"It's that partnership at the local level, that frontline, that takes the pulse of the general public and knows exactly how to respond," Tonko said.

They are touting their work in common, including in fighting back against the opioid epidemic and reducing the recidivism rate. 

At this time, no one has announced plans to oppose either candidate.