On front of the City Hall staircase, former Union President Roger Hull announced his candidacy for Mayor. Behind him were Alliance Party members. WGY and every TV news organization was present. Hull stated that 2 terms were enough for this Mayor and that his top priority would be taxes, which he stated were the highest in the Nation. First McGarry announces in Rotterdam-now Hull in Schenectady.

     President Hull promised a full slate of City Council candidates for the first time since 2003! NO DEM free rides. He was questioned about Union's lack of PILOT and the pension padding scandal. He cited the philosopher Casey Stengel. He said that when running against a machine; "you need to start early and run hard". Not a bad start-could have been much harder on the current failure but let him get his campaign legs. At least he will listen, he will work fulltime and has the intelligence for the position. That's a big change.

Bad decision for the Alliance and the people. Dem machine will destoy them. There will be mailings with Brockbank, Jurczynski, Hull, and Robertson. Alliance should have endorsed Guidarelli if they wanted to win.

Endorsing Peter and having the REPS endorse the Alliance Party council slate would have been the smart move. If it's Anyone But Stratton and you have 2 other Mayoral candidates....

     The DEM machine will be forced to run on its pathetic 35 year record. Pension padding, $314,000 golf pro, 2 City Attorneys, record taxes and foreclosures, Erie Boulevard debacle, revenue implosion. When people are hurting they are receptive to new ideas. The Alliance Party has the old Schenectady 2000 group behind it -so money is not an issue. If the DEMS run the same old-same old again they will crush no one.

I would concur that Mr. Guidarelli would be a good candidate for Mayor for the GOP.   i have always
found him to be a friendly and personable individual.    Don't expect me to attending any of his
fundraisers or working on his campaign .. but looking at it purely as a political analyst -- he
would be a good candidate,

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I would concur that Mr. Guidarelli would be a good candidate for Mayor for the GOP.   i have always
found him to be a friendly and personable individual.    Don't expect me to attending any of his
fundraisers or working on his campaign .. but looking at it purely as a political analyst -- he
would be a good candidate,

Only good candidate?   Guess you will work on a campaign for Stratton if he runs again.  Of course we ALL know Stratton will LOSE BIG BIG TIME if he chooses to run.

Is this for real or what?   Roger Hull.  Former head of Union College.  Former head of one of the biggest tax exempt properties in the city.  Former head who bought up many very high assessment properties and turned them into tax exempt properties.  Former head of Union who stated in no uncertain terms the college would NOT pay ANYTHING in to the city, not even a pilot.  

Stay as far away from Hull as you can city people.  And stay as far away from Stratton as you can too.  

The ONLY saving grace for the city will be a mayor and council who will state, and put it in writing, that they will remove ALL tax exemptions from downtown properties that were given them by the Savage/Gillen/STratton team.  Then the city can get back to the business of fixing up the city, increase safety, take care of the neighborhoods, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the reps endorse guidarelli. Hull should have waited before he made his announcement. Guidarelli lost narrowly against stratton. And now with all of the baggage stratton and the dems have, guidarelli would be a win.

But it's a almost a year away....time will tell. Schenectady just can't take anymore of stratton or the dems! That is a no brainer.

Quoted from mikechristine1

Is this for real or what?   Roger Hull.  Former head of Union College.  Former head of one of the biggest tax exempt properties in the city.  Former head who bought up many very high assessment properties and turned them into tax exempt properties.  Former head of Union who stated in no uncertain terms the college would NOT pay ANYTHING in to the city, not even a pilot.  

Stay as far away from Hull as you can city people.  And stay as far away from Stratton as you can too.  

The ONLY saving grace for the city will be a mayor and council who will state, and put it in writing, that they will remove ALL tax exemptions from downtown properties that were given them by the Savage/Gillen/STratton team.  Then the city can get back to the business of fixing up the city, increase safety, take care of the neighborhoods, etc.

Well.....I have to agree with you on this one! while they are at it, perhaps they can desolve the metroplex too....perhaps?

Working together works! Working together works!

"Should all the taxpayers have an option {like Union College/non-profits} to decide if their money is going to a good cause"? Question of the month from John Mc of TV-10. Hull stated he didn't want Union money to paper over City problems.

      What about the City schools? Should must suffer because Union doesn't want to paper over City problems. This amounts to a cop out. Union College didn't want to pay a fair pilot-Full Stop, There is no way to happy talk over the sad truth. The College likes the current arrangement of paying nothing for vital police and fire services and having  homeowners pick up their tab. He also gives horrible Mayor SOS a passing grade? Talk about grade inflation.

I would be surprised if he has a good showing, too full of himself.

How do you have an hour long news conference and never once mention gang/crime issues? Unless the new Mayor gets his hands around the exploding crime rate-nothing will improve. Schenectady has real problems which will never be solved by "greater nonprofit involvement".

We now know what Mr. Hull's 'past' employment consisted of. But what does he presently do now? I hear he has a non-profit business..........yes....no?

The "brain trust" assembled behind Hull was a hoot. Who is the guy with the bad toupee?