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Mantello To Lead Troy City Council From Minority

Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello
WAMC photo by Dave Lucas

After the tallying of absentee ballots, the political picture in Troy has become clearer. In 2018, Troy will have a unique makeup of its city council. WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports.

A week after Election Day, it’s now clear that Troy will retain its Republican City Council President Carmella Mantello for a second term.

In a year when Democrats surged in local elections, Mantello says she was pleased she was able to hold onto her seat during the “blue wave.”

“I’m truly honored to be the very first directly elected city council president in the City of Troy,” said Mantello.

Under the old city charter, the city council presidency was awarded to the at-large candidate who received the largest number of votes. This time, it was a direct citywide election.

Mantello defeated Democrat Gary Pavlic.

For the last two years, she’s served on a council with a Republican majority under Democratic Mayor Patrick Madden.

But her next term will be different. Democrats made gains on the city council, with the election of newcomers Anasha Cummings, TJ Kennedy, and Cindy Barclay.

Barclay, who was 13 votes behind Republican Mark McGrath on Election Day, gained enough absentee votes to win by a single vote.

Republican Jim Gulli weathered the Democratic uprising.

But that now means that Mantello will be leading the city council from a 2 to 5 minority. She acknowledged that her role as a council president in the minority is “uncharted waters.”

“But I’m really confident that all of us can roll up our sleeves, do the people’s work. The election is over, politics is done, and now it’s time to govern,” said Mantello.

Mayor Madden, halfway through his four-year term,  has frequently clashed with Mantello and the Republican majority. Perhaps the highest-profile matter was introduction of Madden’s 2017 budget proposal, carrying a 28 percent tax increase intended to fix longstanding financial issues. The council and Madden eventually agreed to a 14.5 percent increase.

Speaking to WAMC before the final results were in, Madden said a Democratic majority with a Republican president could be beneficial to the city council.  

“I think it forces people to work together if they’re going to get things done. So, you know, it’s going to be up to each individual and how they want to advance the city or advance politics. So I think it’s quite possible that it could be a very collaborative relationship,” said Madden.

Mantello said she’s worked hard on the city council to serve as a check and balance against the administration. She’s already taken issue with one piece of the city budget.

“This garbage fee is certainly something that has me very, very concerned. I do not support it. It’s a hidden tax and it accounts for $3 million of our budget,” said Mantello.

Mantello said her top priority for the city council will be city finances. She also hopes to replicate downtown’s growth in the city’s neighborhoods and make the city more inclusive for residents with special needs.

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.
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