Lester Freeman's Background

Lester Freeman was born on March 22, 1967. His mother, Mary Freeman, and father, Lester Mosley, lived separately in Albany. He and his older half-sister Denise Mosley were raised by their paternal grandmother, Laura Hayes. His grandmother passed away when he was 7 years old, and he went to live with his mother and his two older half-brothers in Albany’s South End.  

In an effort to avoid boredom and potentially getting trapped in the gang-oriented society in the South End, Lester attended the Albany County Head Start Program, while his mom worked in the kitchen as a cook. This was among the activities that he participated in to help his development. These activities taught him teamwork and discipline.

Lester attended the Albany City Schools and had a timely graduation from Albany High School, where he competed in varsity football, track and field. He credits the Youth Opportunity Program, sponsored by the State of New York, with helping him make the decision to attend college. He enrolled at the State University of New York College at Morrisville where he received an associates degree in Liberal Arts. He then went on to earn his Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

After graduating from Stony Brook University, he returned to his roots to work as a legislative aide in the Albany County Legislature Majority Counsel's office, where he performed research for legislative committees and clerical functions for the Albany County Legislature.

Lester has remained dedicated to his neighborhood, having owned his home and other properties in the South End since 1996.

In 1997 Lester became a Specialist for the Albany County Department of Human Resources, Division of Affirmative Action. He analyzed statistical data related to the hiring and retention of women, minority and disabled persons in County employment. He was responsible for receiving and interpreting payroll data for compliance on construction projects receiving HUD funding, tracking applicant employment applications, and compiling annual reports on the composition of the County workforce.

As the Compliance Officer for the Albany Community Development Agency, Lester monitored utilization of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds received annually from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for residential and commercial rehab construction programs. He performed site visits to sub-recipient not-for-profit organizations receiving CDBG funds for compliance with Affirmative Action guidelines, and was responsible for reviewing voucher payments, analyzing data and interpreting program activities submitted monthly by sub-recipients for payment.

Lester is the Coordinator of the Equal Employment Opportunity program in the City of Albany, Department of Administrative Services, which oversees the operation and management of the City of Albany’s Equal Employment Office for Minority and Women-owned Business. He ensures compliance with the city’s Affirmative Action Plan prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital status and Vietnam-era Veteran. He provides technical support to departments and the City’s Human Rights Commission for compliance with applicable by-laws under the City’s Affirmative Action plan, estimates projects and establishes percentage goals for Minority Participation on public bid contracts let by the City. He also monitors residential and commercial projects receiving subsidies or CDBG funding for housing in distressed areas of the city.

Lester worked on his first mayoral campaign in the summer of 1993, and made a formidable bid for the Albany City Council in 1997, losing by only 63 votes. He continued to volunteer in the South End as a little league coach working with children and encouraging youth to stay in school. He served on the Board of Directors for Albany County Opportunity, Inc., for two terms as Treasurer, and served on the New York State Dr. Martin Luther King Organizing Committee. He is a former Board Member and Treasurer of the Albany Kiwanis Albany County Opportunity program, and a member of the South End and Mount Hope Neighborhood Associations as well the Neighborhood Association of Blacks In Government (NABIG).

In 2007 Lester made a spirited bid for the Albany County Legislature, in the Second District, winning against a 17-year incumbent on the machine vote and losing only after absentee ballots were counted in a controversial ending. The election made it's way into the Northern District United States Federal Court, and changed the way the Albany County Board of Elections handles Absentee Ballots.