Ms. Peoples served as the 7th District Erie County Legislator from 1993 until 2002 and her work enhanced the quality of life in the district as well as all of Western New York. Her district office served thousands of Western New York residents, linking them with service providers and advocating for their rights to access information and services. Assemblywoman Peoples served as Majority Leader and Chairperson of the Erie County Legislature’s Finance Committee for five of the nine years she was the 7th District Erie County Legislator.

As a County Legislator, Ms. Peoples worked diligently to maintain Erie County’s only public hospital. She is the author of Local Law #5, the Erie County MBE/WBE law and certification program. This law generates millions of dollars in revenue annually for minority and women owned businesses by giving them access to County contracts. Ms. Peoples sponsored public education campaigns that addressed social ills, housing and economic development and played an integral role in the inter-governmental economic development collaboration that brought a food market to an area where over 113,000 people had no immediate access to fresh meats, fruits and vegetables. Crystal Peoples also successfully sponsored the legislation that allows Erie County homeowners to make partial payments on back taxes.

Crystal Peoples’ commitment to family, community and servant leadership is illustrated in her motto dedicated to her constituents - "the quality of your life is the purpose of my politics." Assemblywoman Peoples will concentrate her legislative efforts on economic development, cultural tourism and heritage, health care and education. Assemblywoman Peoples holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Student Personnel Administration, both from Buffalo State College. She resides in Buffalo with her daughter, Rashaun and grandson, Kaleb Malik.