Schenectady deputy city clerk announces bid for Farley’s job

Schenectady City Hall employee Chad Putman is gearing up to challenge longtime Republican state Sen. Hugh Farley.

Putman, a Democrat, serves as Schenectady’s deputy city clerk. He is the first Democrat to announce a planned run for the 49th Senate District. Farley is also facing Republican primary challengers Christian Klueg and Nancy Nugent.

“I’m working on an online platform for fundraising and working to develop a committee,” said Putman, who has served as deputy city clerk since 2013. “My goal would be to file the official paperwork in February.”

Putman said he believes Farley has held his Senate seat for too long and that it’s time for a change. Farley, a Niskayuna resident, is serving his 20th term as a senator and is now the third highest-ranking senator.

This year marks Farley’s 40th as a senator. Putman is 40 years old.

“One of my concerns is with the lack of term limits in the state Legislature,” Putman said. “It’s incumbent upon our legislators to be mindful when enough is enough and step aside and make room for whoever may be coming up in the ranks.”

Putman started an online petition at the end of the year — with 44 signatures as of Tuesday evening — titled, “NYS Sen. Hugh Farley: After 40 years, it’s time for a new voice to represent the 49th district. Please don’t run in 2016!”

“Being a community advocate and an active member of the Democratic committee, I’m one voice to solicit people and make them aware that we have an incumbent who has been there for 20 terms,” he said.

Putman is a licensed social worker and serves on the city of Schenectady’s Democratic committee. He is married to Spero Zoulas and is an advocate for LGBT rights in the Capital Region.

He worked on the campaign committees of Democrats Susan Savage and Madelyn Thorne, who both ran against Farley and lost. Savage ran in 2010 and Thorne in 2012 and again in 2014.

Farley, 84, did not rule out another run to keep his Senate seat this fall, but said it’s too early to make a formal announcement.

“We will make an announcement when it is appropriate,” Farley said. “I am still in good health and I’m still very active. I think I’m as vigorous as any of my colleagues. I intend to continue as a senator. I am looking forward to continuing.”

Farley, whose district has a Republican majority, said he is grateful for his constituents’ support and that his priorities will continue to be education, economic development and tax incentives for small businesses.

The 49th Senate District covers all or parts of Schenectady, Saratoga, Fulton, Hamilton and Herkimer counties.

“I enjoy my job and I’m still working hard at it,” he said. “We have a very heavy agenda coming up in this new session and with the budget. I’m not thinking about campaigning at the moment.”

Putman knocked Farley for his views on gay rights and women’s equality. He added that Farley also “voted against basic human rights protections.”

“The Supreme Court has decided same sex marriage is legal in the U.S.,” Putman said. “To have an opportunity to run against a Republican incumbent also fights for my right to be married to my partner for two years.”

Farley said he supports traditional marriage but is not opposed to same sex marriage, noting “it is the law now and I understand that.” He said he also believes he has been supportive of women’s rights.

“I voted for every one of the women’s equality bills except for late-term abortion,” he said.

When asked about Democratic candidates who have run against him before Putman, Farley described the races as “successful wins.”

“I always get an opponent and I have consistently had the largest wins in any contested race in the state,” he said. “And last time I had a bigger win than I did before,” he added, referring to Thorne’s 2014 challenge.

Putman said he believes he would be a better advocate in the Senate for Schenectady, and knocked Farley’s public backing of Republican Roger Hull for mayor of the city this past year.

“There are a lot of big things happening in Schenectady, and last time Farley was here he was stumping for Roger Hull and talking about the negative state of the city,” he said. “While we have Mohawk Harbor and a lot of other projects happening here.”

Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy, a Democrat, said he believes Putman would be a good candidate for the 49th Senate District. He said he believes state legislators in Albany are “out of touch” and that the district needs a new senator.

“Chad is young and energetic,” he said. “He understands the needs of the communities. He has worked for the city. I have seen what he has done in Woodlawn Park in terms of rallying neighborhoods. I would look forward to working with him.”

Reach Gazette reporter Haley Viccaro at 395-3114, [email protected] or @HRViccaro on Twitter.

Categories: News, Schenectady County