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NY: Primary Day At Last!

It's off to the polls for Albany Democrats today.

The Capital City's first new mayor in 20 years is expected to be all but decided today. With party enrollment heavy on the Democratic side, observers say whoever takes the primary is the presumptive winner in November. Recent polls show City Treasurer Kathy Sheehan running ahead of former Councilman Corey Ellis on the path to succeed two-decade incumbent Democrat Jerry Jennings.

In November, the winner will face a mixed bag of opposition candidates led by Conservative Party candidate Joseph Sullivan and Republican Jesse Calhoun, as well as a few other third party challengers.

Democrats believe voter turnout will be greater than in previous years, driven by the mayoral race following Jennings' decision May 15th not to seek another term. However, some observers believe the unpredictable weather could throw a damper on the voting process. And many polling locations throughout the city have been moved, which could possibly discourage voters.

In May, the Albany County Democratic Committee endorsed Sheehan as Jennings' successor over Ellis. The party and mayor also backed county Legislator Gary Domalewicz for city treasurer. But Sheehan's camp is campaigning hand-in-hand with Darius Shahinfar, banking that the Albany Law School grad will draw more votes than Domalewicz, who is backed by Albany County Executive Dan McCoy and Comptroller Mike Conners.

Jennings stumped for Domalewicz on a robocall dialed out early in the week to households of registered city Democrats.  Candidate Domalewicz says he is well-equipped to be city CFO.  His opponent Shahinfar counts Sheehan among his biggest supporters, along with State Assemblymembers Patrica Fahy and Phil Steck.  Domalewicz and Shahinfar are the only declared candidates in the race for Chief Fiscal Officer, so that election too will effectively be decided in the primary.

Nine of the city's 15 Common Council wards are involved in the Democartic primary— the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th — with four of those for open seats.

Albany County Democrats will also choose between Rika Murray and Sue Kushner for Family Court judge. Albany's not the only beehive of primary activity: In Schenectady County, it's winner-take-all:  Jill Polk squares off gainst Kevin Burke in the primary for family court judge. There is no Republican candidate.

Saratoga County is heavily Republican. Voters there will pick their first new candidate for  sheriff candidate in more than four decades.

Michael Zurlo of Stillwater and Jeff Gildersleeve of Ballston Lake are running in a bitter GOP  primary to succeed county Sheriff James Bowen. The winner of that contest will go up against retired Glens Falls police officer Phil Lindsey, the Conservative Party member backed by Democrats.

Primaries are also being held in other counties including Columbia and Greene:  Polls are open from noon to 9 p.m.

DEMOCRAT (Albany)

ALBANY COUNTY FAMILY COURT JUDGE

Rika Murray

ALBANY COUNTY FAMILY COURT JUDGE

Susan M. Kushner

CITY OF ALBANY MAYOR

Corey L. Ellis

CITY OF ALBANY MAYOR

Katherine M. Sheehan

CITY OF ALBANY TREASURER

Darius Shahinfar

CITY OF ALBANY TREASURER

Gary W. Domalewicz

ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 1

Andres Rivera

ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 1

Scott A. Mannarino

ALBANY COUNCIL MEMBER - WARD 1

Dorcey L. Applyrs

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 2

Lester Freeman

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 2

Vivian Kornegay

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 4

Clifton M. Dixon

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 4

Kelly R. Kimbrough

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 5

Mark Robinson

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 5

Jacqueline M. Jenkins-Cox

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 5

Samuel Coleman

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 5

Johnsie M. Ingram

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 7

Timothy L Carney

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 7

Catherine M. Fahey

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 8

Leonard R. Ricchiuti, Jr.

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 8

Jack Flynn

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 9

Judy L. Doesschate

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 9

Terrence Ward

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 10

Leah S. Golby

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 10

Owusu Anane

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 10

Howard Yaeger

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 11

Anton A. Konev

ALBANY COUNCIL - WARD 11

Judd W. Krasher

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.
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