Matthew Hamilton is reporting at Capitol Confidential the number of women serving in county-level office in New York will increase in 2018 to 257, up from 245 the previous year. According to the state Association of Counties, women now represent just 22 percent of all county-level offices, a percentage close to female representation in the state Legislature, at 28 percent, and the U.S. Congress, at 20 percent. Sixty-two women were elected to county positions in the November elections, according to the association. Rutgers University's Center for American Women and Politics reports the number of women running for higher level office has increased over time. In1970, 26 women ran for U.S. Senate and the House. In 2016, that number had increased to 183. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.