There’s going to be a fight over the Republican line for Schenectady City Council.
The Republicans endorsed Joseph Kelleher, one of three who ran on the line in last year’s council race.
His running mate last year, Mary McClaine, immediately announced that she would file petitions for a primary.
“I am primarying him if I have to crawl up the steps to get the [petition] signatures,” she said this week.
She was hoping the Republican committee would choose her over Kelleher.
“I just feel I have more to contribute than any other candidate,” she said. “And I’ve been here 35 years.”
Kelleher is a relative newcomer, having moved here last year.
He tried to turn that into an advantage in the last campaign, saying the public was ready for “new blood.”
But in the election, he came in fifth, with 2,935 votes. McClaine got 2,500 votes.
Republican Committee Chairman Michael Cuevas said Kelleher was chosen again because he was the “most enthusiastic” about running a second time.
Kelleher said he was not dismayed by his first loss.
“So many people stood behind me last time and believed in me and I told them I’m not going away,” he said.
“The people still need a voice on the opposite side of what we currently have on the council.”
The Democrats endorsed City Councilman Ed Kosiur, who was appointed to a vacant seat on the council this year.
Whoever wins the seat will have to run again next year for a full term. There is only one seat up for this year’s election.
Categories: Schenectady County
