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Both parties face primary for Schenectady Council
Monday, July 23, 2012
By Kathleen Moore (Contact)
Gazette Reporter



SCHENECTADY — Both the Democrats and the Republicans are facing primaries in the city of Schenectady this year — an unusual event for a city where the Republicans have lately struggled to field any candidates and the Democrats have managed to hush any dissent among party workers.

The race is for the City Council seat now occupied by Marion Porterfield, who was appointed to the seat formerly held by Mayor Gary McCarthy. He created a vacancy on the council when he resigned to become mayor on Jan. 1. That seat will be contested in the Nov. 6 election.

On the Republican side, endorsed candidate Richard Patierne is facing a primary challenge from resident Mary McClaine.

She submitted enough petition signatures for a primary over the Republican line, but the Republicans immediately filed a general objection to her petition. They have until today to file specifics or drop the objection.

They could also take the matter to state Supreme Court, Schenectady County.

McClaine is a regular speaker at City Council meetings, often reading prepared statements criticizing the council over its decisions or trying to persuade them against certain votes.

She recently succeeded in getting them to narrow their proposed ban on scavengers, who take valuables from people’s trash. However, the council still intends to make it illegal to take recyclables, although she argued that scavengers are hard workers whose livelihood should not be threatened by a city law.

On the Democratic side, Porterfield has been challenged by resident Robert Sanders.

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2012/jul/23/0723_council/