The race to lead Troy is getting tighter. Since Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia announced he would not seek a second term in office, a cast of hopefuls moved into the spotlight. City Council President Rodney Wiltshire was first to officially step forward, in late March. The two-term councilman tells WAMC: "I wanna put the party politics from the past behind, and get us into the 21st century, which is something that I think Troy desperately deserves." Wiltshire has picked up The Working Families Party endorsement.
In mid-April, Collar City native Ernest Everett announced his candidacy. Everett promises to unite the city and bring it back to its industrial roots. With the city under fiscal stress, struggling against crime and arsons, the young Democrat promises to make Troy a safer and more prosperous place to live and do business. Meanwhile, Patrick Madden, executive director of the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Project, has been formally endorsed for mayor by the Democratic Party. Madden is the brother of Republican Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino. Observers note he's been keeping a "low profile" so far.
The city Republican committee picked first-term District 1 Councilman Jim Gordon as its candidate. Gordon plans to make his own formal announcement next week. "What ultimately gets in the way of positive things from happening in Troy is government and the politics of the government. We're at a point now where people are fed up and tired of that. We see it, we hear it. I get it everyday. People feel like their priorities have been put on the back burner."
Former three-term city council member Carmella Mantello expects to announce in mid- to late-May: she will potentially seek the Green and Independence lines. Mantello is also considering creating her own third party line. "This is not the time for a nice guy, it's not the time for anyone who needs on-the-job training, it's a real serious time to elect a leader who's going to move our city forward, address the financial issues on a short-term basis, and have a long-term outlook."
Both major parties expect primaries.
