Quoted Text

Hull says part-time mayor 'bad policy'
Schenectady mayoral challenger says Democrats playing politics in filling Brian U. Stratton's post
By Lauren Stanforth And Paul Nelson Staff Writers
Published 12:00 a.m., Monday, February 28, 2011

SCHENECTADY -- Mayoral candidate and former Union College president Roger Hull is blasting city Democrats' intention of having a part-time replacement when Mayor Brian U. Stratton leaves for a state job possibly next month.

City Council President and Democrat Gary McCarthy has said he'll likely step into the leadership role when Stratton becomes head of the state Canal Corp. Under city law, McCarthy would carry out the duties of mayor while still serving as council president. An investigator at the Schenectady County district attorney's office, McCarthy would receive no pay for the mayoral duties.

The City Council's seven members, all of them Democrats, have the option of appointing someone other than a council member to be a paid acting mayor, but appear to be supportive of McCarthy. They have yet to formally vote on the transition. Any new city leader would be in place until Jan. 1, when the newly elected mayor takes office.

Hull said Democrats are pushing to have McCarthy be mayor part time as a trial run for the November election, in which McCarthy might be the party's candidate. McCarthy has not announced his intentions. Hull, who is running on an independent party line, said it wouldn't affect his candidacy one way or the other if McCarthy took over the position for eight months before the election.

"Given the severity of finances, the city is facing, it requires a full-time mayor," Hull said Sunday. "It's a question of politics over policy, and that's bad policy."

Joe Allen, who won't be seeking re-election this year after 16 years on the council, said Hull showed little willingness to help out the city financially when he was the college's president from 1990 to 2005..................>>>>...........................>>>>...................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/defa.....18.php#ixzz1FFdLzv00

I doesn't matter that Hull leaves a lot to be desired as a potential Mayor.  It doesn't matter how poorly he regarded the city's needs when Union College president what matters here is the truth..... What matters here is stopping the politics...we need a full time Mayor.

Hull is on the mark.  If the position is made part time then it should continue part time after the election.  And the salary should be cut to 1/2 time also.

That being said, McCarthy has to be made to make a choice work for the DA or work for the city.

The City council is setting McCarthy up for a run for Mayor.  Being the incumbent makes a difference in elections.

Why is it that City Council members only begin to speak up right before they leave? Joe Allen is right, Union never gave money to the City under Hull's watch. Do you really think Hull would even try to get any money from Union if he's elected?

And what about McCarthy? His ego is so inflated that he cannot even stop making rude remarks to Schenectady residents for three minutes. With Morris and Gillen on team McCarthy, Gary must feel like teflon. Part-time mayor..well his nastiness makes it seem like he's a part-time human.

Schenectady needs a full time Mayor not someone trying to cover from another public office. Quit your job and take over Mayor or pick Sharon Jordan. No one supports McCarthy as a part timer. It's a full time job to undo all the damage the City DEMS have done for 35 years running the City into the ground. Roger Hull is right and more and more DEMS want someone other than a part time Gary.

R72

Agree with you.  His referring to mental health which is horrible too STIGMA.   His comments in general need to stop

If mccarthy takes this temporary position as mayor on a part time basis...know one would know the difference. Stratton was never perceived as a full time mayor any way!!!!

He wasn't perceived as a full time Mayor because he kept bankers hours. The lights were on but no one was ever home. He never answered calls. Then everyone was in the dark on every issue. Sharon Jordan is the only way out of this pickle. Then let someone else run in November.