https://www.timesunion.com/7dayarchive/article/Dems-Schenectady-mayor-plans-to-seek-third-term-13024936.php
Allies say Schenectady mayor McCarthy plans to seek third term
Published 5:45 pm, Monday, June 25, 2018
SCHENECTADY - Several powerful Schenectady Democrats say they are confident and fully expect that their good friend and incumbent mayor Gary McCarthy will seek a third term next year.
"He's been working very hard building support, he's very optimistic about the work we're all doing, it's a team effort, and it's an indication I think certainly with everyone's attitude that that would be the case," said Schenectady Democratic Chairman Richard Naylor. "My expectations and everything I know is that he would be."
Naylor credited McCarthy with revitalizing the city, lowering property taxes, and spearheading economic development projects in the Electric City.
"The record is fantastic," he said.
City Council president Ed Kosiur said last week that McCarthy has confided in him he is "absolutely" running for another four-year term. He also said Democrats have started outreach efforts in hopes of holding on to the three City Council seats the party holds and capturing the one occupied by Councilman Vince Riggi, an incumbent.
On Tuesday McCarthy was mum on the issue.
"I don't have any comment on it," said McCarthy. "The process is, I'll do some polling, I'll get a physical, and then I'll make the decision."
He says he'll likely make that decision in May for the November election.
The mayor said he still must discuss the matter with his wife Caroline Boardman McCarthy, who Monday confirmed that they still had not talked about his future in politics.
"We haven't had a sit-down formal conversation because it's just so early and he deals with it day to day," she said, adding that she is presently planning his annual golf fundraiser tournament. "It's a lot for a married couple to go through a campaign, it's exciting and it's very hectic and busy, but we haven't had that conversation ... but maybe I'll have it tonight when I see him."
Asked about the Kosiur and Naylor comments, McCarthy said, "I appreciate their support and friendship and we'll just continue doing what we're doing."
On Monday, Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo, who has lately openly clashed with McCarthy and Kosiur on several issues , said she had no plans to run in an election primary if McCarthy runs again.
The maverick Democrat and former city council president — who has made no secrets about her ambition to one day lead the city — declined further comment.
Roger Hull, the one-time Union College president, who has made two failed bids to dethrone McCarthy, ruled out running a third time.
"I still feel strongly that we would benefit from real competition in Schenectady," said Hull who ran on the Alliance Party line. "I think that one party rule is never good and that's why I did what I did in 2011 and 2015, and if there's someone that I could support, I would support them."
Mike Cuevas, county chair of the Republicans, said many people, including "city business people" have made inquiries about possibly running on the GOP line.
Riggi, an independent who has run on the Republican line, is a formidable candidate, Cuevas said.
In response, Riggi said he plans on keeping all his political options open.
"Despite what people may think of riverfront development, which most people believe it's a good thing, there are still big issues in our city that really haven't been addressed," said Cuevas, who in 2007 ran for mayor and lost.
Specifically, he mentioned a broken promise from the McCarthy administration to city residents about a huge property tax reduction from casino money. He also pointed out the perception of some people that Schenectady has a crime problem and McCarthy's failure to work more closely with the school district to help improve graduation rates.
