I’ve been receiving numerous email messages asking why I’m running if I’m neither a Republican nor a Democrat. As I said on WAMC, a local radio station, I say…why not? Look, Democrats have had their time in the sun. Outgoing mayor Kathy Sheehan has had her day and it’s time to move on and succeed where she has often failed.
To you, the voter, the benefits of voting for a candidate who is free of any political ties or loyalties are many. You can take it to the bank that I don’t make backroom deals and I don’t do quid pro pro. In order to get the party nominations, you and I both know that candidates will make all sorts of deals in exchange for that nomination or at the very least in exchange for the benefit of being tied to a party.
You won’t have to worry about any of that if, and only if, you put me into office as Albany’s 76th mayor. I have loyalties to no one but the citizens of Albany, even those who don’t vote for me. Other candidates’ loyalties are questionable. Not my opponents specifically, but in any political race.
That won’t happen with me.
My loyalty is to persons over parties. That can only benefit the people of Albany.
In the coming weeks and months before April 15, we will likely see more people announce their candidacy. Most of them will be Democrats, maybe, just maybe, a Republican or two will think they have what it takes.
As of right now, I am the only candidate who eschews being tied to any party whatsoever. Maybe a few more like me will come forward and I am ready for that. But even those candidates need help from someone and those someones will want something in return.
As for me? I make no deals, bargains or anything like that. My focus is on the people of Albany. I am running this campaign by myself with a limited budget. That will be a problem, yes, but at least I can say that I am loyal to the people, not to the parties. Can my opponents say that? I don’t think so.
Starting in April, things will kick into high gear. Then, you will see candidates really step it up a notch or two. Right now, it’s just somewhat informal. But it won’t be too long before it’s time to play ball. It won’t be easy, especially since I don’t have parties backing me. I don’t know the right people. I don’t have those connections. But that just makes me the better candidate because I’ve got no strings on me.
In order to get on the ballot, I will need 1,201 signatures on a nomination form (petition). To play it safe, I am shooting for 1,400 to compensate for signatures that may be deemed invalid by the elections board.
Election law states that I cannot ask for signatures until April 15, and I have until May 27 to hand those signatures in. It’s going to be a tough road ahead. I will need people to help me go door to door and to hold campaign events in order to get those signatures. If I have to do it all myself, I will simply have to do that. It will be a challenge, but I wouldn’t be much of a mayoral candidate if I ran away from a challenge.
If you want to help me in any way, I would greatly appreciate it. This is all new to me and I’m learning as I go. I’ll need people to help me get signatures in April. That’s the big one. And, let’s face it, contributions are necessary to any political candidate. So donations would go a long way for the uphill battle that I am about to face.
And if, by chance, I do not get those signatures, I will proceed as a write-in candidate. That will make it even more of an uphill battle.
I’m in this to win it. I am not backing down, nor will I run away. And if I lose, then so be it. At least then I can say that I tried to make Albany a better, brighter place.