Kim Ashe-McPherson resigned from the Troy City Council following her pleading guilty to federal identity theft charges for casting votes in the names of other people.

The Republican, who was reelected to the council last year, admitted in federal court to casting ballots in the names of other people in both the primary and general election.

As part of a plea agreement, she resigned, and faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release.

City leaders on Thursday responded to the resignation.

“There is a cloud over the city of Troy and the region,” said Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello.

Mayor Patrick Madden said he recommends filling her vacancy on the council with Steven Figueroa, who ran for the seat last year.

“I fear there was a concerted effort to subvert the electorate,” Madden said.

The plea comes on the heels of a federal probe into apparent widespread ballot fraud across Rensselaer County. Court documents show that in 2021, the former chair of the city’s public safety committee cast three absentee ballots using names other than her own, and she had received guidance from an unnamed official at the County Board of Elections.

It’s unclear whether anyone will be charged.

“Right now, we have folks who don’t trust elected officials,” Mantello said. “From federal, state and local, so this doesn’t help.”

Ashe-McPherson’s resignation came less than a month after her brother, former Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Ashe, retired and pleaded guilty to official misconduct.

“Don’t despair with government,” Madden said. “I think the vast majority of people who serve in public office are doing it for the right reason and are trying very hard to do it right.”

As city leaders try to champion that message and salvage trust with residents, all eyes will be on the vacant city council.

“It’s very important to be inclusive,” Mantello said. “And to ensure that district two is part of selecting that person.”

The selection is dependent on a city council vote. But Mantello said she and her Republican counterparts are proposing a bipartisan advisory committee with three residents, a minority and a majority council member.

“That will help determine the best candidate,” she said.

Madden said moving forward with Steve Figueroa, Ashe-McPherson’s former opponent, is the best and only option per the city’s protocol.

“We need to move through that,” he said. “We need to move through it quickly so that we can get back to the city’s business.”

Ashe-McPherson’s replacement will serve on the council through the end of the 2022. A special election in November will determine who fills the former councilwoman’s term, which expires next year.