SCHENECTADY -- Brian U. Stratton will resign as mayor and take an appointment with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration, two people familiar with the mayor's plans said late Tuesday.
An announcement is expected Wednesday. However, what the new position will be for the Schenectady Democrat is unknown.
The move ends years of speculation that Stratton would get a job with a state Democratic administration, starting with the election of then Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2006.
The switch also comes as Stratton faces his first real challenge for re-election this November from former Union College President Roger Hull. Stratton had yet to announce if he would run for his third, four-year term.
The mayor informed several people of the pending change Tuesday. He did not return calls for comment.
City Corporation Council L. John Van Norden said in the event of a mayoral vacancy, the City Council president can discharge the duties of mayor. The council can then vote to appoint a new mayor, but it has to be someone who is not a council member.
And Schenectadians will have to put up with who? McCarthy?
Sorry, but Stratton does not seem to be anything like Cuomo. Stratton is into free spending of the taxpayers money to benefit the wealthy. Well, maybe, second thought, Cuomo doesn't want the millionaire tax
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
WOW! I would have thought that he would have finished the term out THEN move out and on. Wonder if McCarthy will run on the dem line for mayor?
Get ready folks......this could be you window of opportunity for CHANGE!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Mike or anyone It says no one on the council can be appointed, so dosen't that leave McCarthy out ? I wasn't sure what discharge the duties of mayor meant.
It has been rumored for weeks that he would be going to State DMV. Gary McCarthy will take over. It's been obvious for awhile that he was not running for a third term and would never have won. This opens the door for PG. Roger Hull is the catalyst for this now third City DEM jumping ship.
Mike or anyone It says no one on the council can be appointed, so dosen't that leave McCarthy out ? I wasn't sure what discharge the duties of mayor meant.
Interesting timing you think?
He can't be appointed to fill the term, but he CAN run for the seat when it's vacant - or even better, he could also resign from the council to accept the seat
Gary McCarthy will fill in no matter what. He's wanted this for a long time. Somebody call the Gazetto as usual they are light years behind on this great news. So much for the Gazetto's Mayor for life.
It has been rumored for weeks that he would be going to State DMV. Gary McCarthy will take over. It's been obvious for awhile that he was not running for a third term and would never have won. This opens the door for PG. Roger Hull is the catalyst for this now third City DEM jumping ship.
Stratton would be the first local official tapped. A source said he will not take the place of the now-resigned commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, as had been rumored.
John Woodward would make an excellent choice for new DMV Commissioner. His wife is at State Board of Elections. With Joe Allen, Tom Della Sala, the Mayor not running again and perhaps an open County Clerk seat-we will finally see some new leadership.
so if McCarthy gives up his council seat and is appointed mayor (not a pretty picture) then the council must fill the empty council seat until elections. Maybe make some calls and see if they will appoint Pat Z : ) as she did well in the last election.
That will happen when hell freezes over. The DEMS will find any stooge first. The only way Pat or any other fiscal CONS will take a seat is winning it in November. The voters are finally realizing that everything Pat warned about for years is true.
Look for more DEMS to run from the fiscal mess they alone created. With 2 open Council seats and an open Mayor November will be a historic opportunity to change direction in the City and County.
"That will happen when hell freezes over" Yeah I know but it would only be right as she was the only other candidate to run. Oh well I can dream can't I : )
Things are getting interesting McCarthy = Metroplex
Logged
It has been rumored for weeks that he would be going to State DMV. Gary McCarthy will take over. It's been obvious for awhile that he was not running for a third term and would never have won. This opens the door for PG. Roger Hull is the catalyst for this now third City DEM jumping ship.
