His legislative responsibilities cover a broad range of departments and institutions, including Broome Community College, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County, Historian, Broome County Central Library, Department of Parks and Recreation, Veterans' Memorial Arena, Forum, District Attorney, Public Defender, Emergency Services, Coroners, Probation Department, STOP-DWI, Sheriff, Civil Defense, Fire Coordinator and Fire Advisory Board, Traffic Safety Board, Security Division, Dog Shelter, Soil and Water Conservation District, property management, and areas within the Public Works Department, such as county highways and bridges, water and sewer districts, recycling and landfill operations.

Rick is a proponent of, among other objectives, updating the county's infrastructure, cleaning up area brownfields, improved marketing of Broome County in conjunction with area colleges and seeking mandate relief.

Legislator Materese is employed as a social studies teacher and coach with the Union-Endicott School District and previously served as a Village of Endicott Trustee.

Rick and his wife, Mary, reside in the Village of Endicott.