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Sheehan Gets Union Nods; Outlines Economic Development Plan

WAMC photo by Dave Lucas

With three weeks until primary day, an Albany mayoral hopeful has unveiled her plan for economic development and job creation, while announcing new labor endorsements.

Saying that "Albany's best days are ahead of us," Democratic mayoral candidate and current City Treasurer Kathy Sheehan held a news conference in front of City Hall Tuesday, noting that since the recession ended in 2009, suburban tax bases have grown while Albany's has shrunk by nearly 7 percent.

Sheehan joins fellow Democratic hopeful Corey Ellis, a former city councilman, in proposing tax incentives to owners to rehab blighted structures. She supports Albany joining a land bank to get decaying properties back on the tax roll.

Ellis did not respond to a request for comment. While Sheehan addressed the media, Independent Democratic mayoral candidate Marlon Anderson, who will not be running in the September primary but hopes to secure a spot on the November ballot, watched from the sidelines. Anderson quipped Sheehan's plans were not much different from ones he previously announced.

At the event, officials representing the Civil Service Employee Federation and AFSCME Local 1961, Council 66 announced they have endorsed Sheehan for Mayor of Albany.

The two unions represent city, county and state workers who live in the capital city. Combined, they have more than 5,000 members and retirees who are registered voters in Albany.

Polls have shown Sheehan ahead among likely voters, and she has a big fundraising edge.

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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