Albany Politics

[dylan]

I was wondering if anyone on here is interested in discussing Albany politics.

I have a question. In the last mayoral election, a small group of individuals 'anointed' Shawn Morris as the progressive/democratic candidate for mayor.

When Corey Ellis announced his election, they got upset and refused to support him.

Has this same group of people already 'anointed' the next progressive alternative to Jennings, and if someone steps up to challenge them will these people be just as upset?

I want to unseat Jennings too, but a small group of people deciding who gets to run against Jennings next doesn't seem to be very democratic.

I am sure I am messing up the details here, and there ARE of course strategic reasons for finding a candidate and sticking with them. But what happens when a weak candidate is chosen and a stronger candidate emerges closer to election time? Are we to be held hostage by the progressive 'elite'?

[anonanon]

I am not aware that there is a favorite among the progressive elite you refer to, and I know specific people I consider to be in that group who aren't aware of one.

[dylan]

I'm sort of being intentionally inflammatory to incite dialogue.

[roylemons]

from what i heard, shawn morris was going to re-mortgage her house to pay for the campaign and when corey ellis announced and refused to step down, morris stepped down because she didn't want to re-mortgage for a campaign that would loose because the progressive vote was split.
what pissed me off in the campaign was corey disappearing for 2 or 3 weeks after the primary which was when he should have been rallying the troops to campaign against jennings on a different line (i think he had the working families party line, right?)

but what really pisses me off is that the elections are decided in the democratic primary...how about some other representation?

[anonanon]

I spent many hours on the Ellis campaign as Shanna can attest. You are trying to be intentionally inflammatory but it won't work for me since I can only agree with the sentiment. I became acutely aware of the hypocrisy of some so called 'progressives' when South end communities did not fall in line with the respectable white candidate they had anointed. Actually their attitude at the time was exactly the same as what is going on in the thread posted below. Just asserting their candidate was the best, the only one that could win, why? because they said so and we should just trust their infinite yet unexplainable wisdom. And when Corey clearly showed stronger support in fundraising and endorsements...they are so hurt personally because it is all about their intelligence in the first place, they sit out or work actively against Corey (i.e. 12thWardDem you may recall posting on every TU article in comments, I won't say who he is but you may already know).

Which reminds me - I think some of them are hoping it is Kathy Sheehan in 2013, who they worked to get elected as treasurer when Shawn dropped out.

Edit:
occupyalbany.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=920
the similar display of liberal vanguardism as occurred in 2009.

[mtnclimber]

Some other things about Albany politics, to flesh it out even more.

Shawn Morrris represented me on the Common Council and I liked her. When you meet the candidates who ring your bell, you remember it.

When she decided to run for mayor, I said great! Then she dropped out, and the media said it was because Corey Ellis was running too, and she did not want to split the progressive vote.

My response? I respected her choice, but I thought she was the better candidate. Then I got behind Corey, and I called and asked if they could use a volunteer. I worked the phones and talked to many people in Albany. I also rang bells and brought signs to people who wanted them.

I too -- someone else said this -- am disappointed about how Corey disappeared for weeks after the primary. I could not figure out how after the primary he sent all his money to the Working Families party, the media said, with him explaining that that's what's done after campaigns. Okay, so Corey decided he was not in it for the general election...... And then LATER Corey says he is raising money for the general election, after he had just turned over his money to the WFP.......

Back to people like me: I heard more than I wanted to about the mechanics of campaigns. I want to hear about the issues.

I will give a fair and hopeful look to anyone who runs in the next election.