Ex-Plug Power CEO in bid for office

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jill Bryce

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A fifth Democrat is scheduled to announce Thursday that he’s entering the race for Rep. Michael McNulty’s 21st Congressional District seat.

Gary Mittleman, of Loudonville, is the founding CEO of Plug Power. He started the company in 1997 and left in 2000.

Mittleman does consulting work for small start-up companies and serves on various boards in the Capital Region, including that of IP Logic, a high-tech company. He is also an investor.

Mittleman said it’s becoming increasingly clear that major issues facing the country — including the economy, health care, energy policy, foreign policy, the war in Iraq, the environment and education — need to be addressed by people with knowledge in those areas.

“Career politicians are not getting it done,” said Mittleman. “With my background and experience, I believe I can change things for the better.”

He said he would provide more details about what he would do in Washington when he makes his formal announcement Thursday afternoon.

Asked about joining a large pool of Democratic candidates, Mittleman, said he’s glad the voters will have a real choice to move forward.

Mittleman, 55, is married and has two children and a stepdaughter.

The other Democrats to announce their candidacies are: Phil Steck, Colonie Democratic chairman; Tracey Brooks, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; Darius Shahinfar, a former aide to U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-Hudson; and Lester Freeman, an Albany Democrat activist.

Former Assemblyman Paul Tonko, a Democrat who is now president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, said last week that he’s considering a run.

On Monday, Schenectady County Legislator James Buhrmaster said he may seek the Republican nomination to run for the seat in Congress.

McNulty, D-Green Island, is retiring at the end of this year after 20 years in Congress.

The district covers parts of Fulton, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties and all of Albany, Montgomery, Schenectady and Schoharie counties.