About Justin R. Chaires

Schenectady isn’t just where I was born, it’s part of my family’s story dating back to the founding of this city. The streets, the schools, the neighborhoods, they shaped me. They shaped my values. And they shaped my commitment to serve.

I was raised in a home built on love, laughter, faith, sports, and an unshakable belief in community responsibility. My mother dedicated her life to students as a Special Education teacher, teaching me that every child deserves someone who believes in them. My father built turbines at GE and stood up for working families as a shop steward and union representative, showing me that leadership means fighting for people; not titles.

Service wasn’t optional in our home. It was expected.

As a proud father and lifelong educator, I followed in my mother’s footsteps and spent more than a decade serving as a Special Education teacher and administrator. In classrooms across our community, I witnessed both the challenges families face and the incredible potential our young people hold when they’re given the right support.

My commitment to service extends far beyond the classroom. I serve as Vice President of the NAACP, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and a member of the Law Enforcement New Hire Panel…working to build safer neighborhoods grounded in accountability and trust. I have written and advanced legislation as Committee Director of Energy and Telecommunications in the Majority Whip’s office of the New York State Senate. I also serve on the State Board of Citizen Action and represent the Working Families Party, advocating for policies that protect working families and strengthen our communities.

But at the end of the day, my greatest title is neighbor.