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Albany Common Council Primary Races All Decided Except One Going To Absentees

Albany Common Council Candidates Appeared On A February Zoom Forum
Zoom screenshot
Albany Common Council Candidates Appeared On A February Zoom Forum

Most Albany Common Council incumbents weathered the Democratic primary last week and now move ahead to the November election.

In the First Ward, first-term Common Councilor Sonia Frederick held off challenger Scott Mannarino, but the Conservative will appear on the Republican line in the fall. In the Second Ward, Councilor Derek Johnson turned back a challenge by Lovett Branch.  Councilor Joyce Love held on to the Third Ward seat, bucking calls for her ouster after she voted against a citywide ban of police use of tear gas and rubber bullets. On a Zoom session in May, Love recounted how she experienced teargas firsthand June 1, 2020 during a period of civil unrest in Albany tied to the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police.

"I do think tear gas need to be phased out. I really do. I got hit with tear gas that night. And again, my sight has not came back yet. And it'll be a year. Next month. I'm still dealing with my breathing because I have crystals in my lungs from the tear gas. I am still suffering from this. But again, I don't want to see them open fire to poor neighborhoods, and this is what's going to happen."

Love will face Republican Vashon McIntyre in the fall.

Fourth Ward Councilor Kelly Kimbrough ran unopposed.

In the Fifth Ward, Councilor Jahmel Robinson defeated Wilmer Lawson.

Gabriella Romero won the primary for the open Sixth Ward Common Council seat over Jeff Mayo and Susan Pedo. Romero says a big part of her campaign platform involved police reform and changing the way people see public safety, ideas inspired by her work as a public defender.

"My parents were lifelong unionized state workers. And they kind of raised me to emphasize public service and being involved in your community. I really, really was invigorated to run over this past summer, with the kind of social justice and civil rights movements that gained a lot of momentum after the murder of George Floyd."

Romero promises she'll continue to meet with residents on their doorsteps.

"Really just listening to them and the stories that they have and sharing experiences about why we love this neighborhood and why we love the city."

Current Sixth Ward Councilor Richard Conti, elected in 1997, is one of five senior council members who are not running for another term this year. The other four are Seventh Ward councilor Cathy Fahey, the Ninth Ward's Judy Doesschate, Mike O'Brien of the 12th ward and Joe Igoe in the 14th.

The race for the Ward Seven seat will be determined by absentee ballots. There was a close finish between Violetta DeRosa and Sergio Adams, with former Albany County Legislator Brian Scavo a distant third.  Adams made an unsuccessful run for the seat in 2017.

"I decided to run this race because as a resident living in the city of Albany, I've realized over the course of years that housing was a huge issue for me. And when I looked at the housing situation, in the city of Albany, it made me remember much of my childhood, of having issues with housing instability, being unhoused, for several years."

DeRosa describes herself as a progressive Democrat who has always "marched for change."

"Our children are the future of our community. And I want to work to secure our youth programs and use a collaborative approach to build partnerships with community groups and nonprofits that serve our children, and to increase opportunity for all of Albany's young people. You know, the saying ‘see something, say something,’ well, I say ‘see something, do something.’ I want us to have less talk and more action.”

Eighth Ward councilor Jack Flynn ran unopposed.

In the Ninth Ward, Meghan Keegan defeated Jolyn Gallagher, and will be challenged in November by Conservative Robert Porter. Councilor Owusu Anane was not challenged for the Tenth Ward Seat and in the Eleventh, Councilor Alfredo Balarin defeated Luis Williams. Edward Hyde Clarke ran unopposed in Ward 12 and faces off against Conservative Robert Hammer in the general election. Ginnie Farrell was unopposed in the 13th. In the 14th Ward, Deborah Zamer beat Celia Evers. In the 15th Ward Tom Hoey ran unopposed and faces Republican Joseph Kilmer in the fall.

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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