The Guyanese Community will not sit back and accept this and I don't blame them.  This is a slap in the face.  The Council should chnage the law.  There is no reason why the seat vacated by a Council memeber winning  the Mayors position should be appointed when the votes are still fresh.  The next highest vote winner for the Council seat should get this. The Guyanese are organized.   Probably more organized than the city administration.  This is going to be another very interesting side that will be fun to watch in the next few months.  


http://guyamerica.org/

From their website.  

MISSION STATEMENT

Guyanese American Association of Schenectady, a charitable, tax-exempt, 501(c) (3) organization, is dedicated to promoting empowerment of people, protection of the environment, and respect for cultural diversity. The organization focuses it’s funding on committed, grass roots organizations that rely strongly on volunteer efforts and where organization support will make a significant difference. Our mission is to unlock the potential of the people in Schenectady, to build and sustain a healthy community.
Enhance the positive quality of individual, family, and community life by providing services that are consistently available, accessible, and responsive to the needs of individuals, families, and groups seeking assistance, and to work with the community to contribute, facilitate, and promote solutions for the enrichment of all.

They need a wake up call as do many voters. If Guyanese were so organized John would have beaten a weak Margaret King. Too bad we don't have more Council people with the integrity and intelligence of Barbara Blanchard. The City DEM chairman should have told King she was done and run Marion Porterfield. Instead they pull this disgusting charade on the City residents.

Quoted Text

Council seat battle averted
An effort by Democrats to fill vacancy spurs protest, leads to open nominating process
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer
Published 11:10 p.m., Tuesday, December 27, 2011
  
SCHENECTADY – City Council appears to be opening up the process to fill mayor-elect Gary McCarthy's seat as its lone non-Democrat announced Tuesday that he will interview candidates Jan. 10 at City Hall.

Vincent Riggi, a citizen activist who won a City Council seat after running on the Republican and Alliance Party lines in November, announced at Tuesday's council meeting that he will interview candidates at 6 p.m. Jan. 10 in Room 110 in response to ruling Democrats' plans to privately decide between two candidates who will fill the one-year seat. McCarthy's replacement will have to run in November to stay in the seat another four years.

Riggi invited people interested in the post to submit resumes to the city clerk, and also invited his five fellow council members to attend the interviews.

"I have no problem with the two candidates," said Riggi, who made his announcement during the meeting's public comment period. He will take his City Council seat Jan. 1. "But I think the process should be open to everyone." City Councilwoman Denise Brucker, who will likely be made City Council president during Schenectady's organizational meeting Jan. 3, said council members will likely attend Riggi's interviews, and she'll encourage the two preferred Democratic candidates to attend.

"He's a new council member, I understand him wanting it to be open," Brucker said after Tuesday night's meeting...........................>>>>...............>>>>................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Council-seat-battle-averted-2427868.php#ixzz1hpZkeCgp

Vince Riggis is the "MAN".....he is always prepared and has learned the game of politics very well.....

He speaks with knowledge and is always right on with any issue.....he will make a fine representation for the residents of the City

and more......

Good Luck and maintain the integrity you have shown.

I think he as an alli in Barbara.  She is the one quoted in the article saying what the council was going to do.

Vince Riggi may be one man, but he has taken the reigns on putting an end to one piece of the politically corrupt Council's methods.

Making this process open to all of the City residents...well, that's quite refreshing. The interesting thing here is that the Council is already divided (Mootooveren v. Porterfield) and Riggi is creating even a deeper wedge.

Thank goodness Vince Riggi is the voice of the people...and a strong one at that!

Quoted Text

Use open process to fill City Council vacancy

    I was very pleased to see the Dec. 24 editorial [“Pick council replacement on merits, not politics”] urging the Schenectady City Council to fi ll the vacancy for Gary McCarthy’s council seat on the basis of merit, not politics.
    The Gazette’s view mirrors my own as a council member-elect, one who will be part of this appointment process. My City Council colleagues are well aware of my feelings on how this process should occur. It includes interviewing anyone interested in the appointment, and for such interviews to be held during a public meeting in a place such as City Hall.
    I have already refused to be part of any process other than that. There is no good reason for these interviews to include a select number of people and for the interviews to be held without a council quorum present — other than to circumvent the rules of an open meeting, which will prevent other interested parties from the interview process. In November 2012, the public will make that choice; until then it’s up to the City Council to make this as open a process as possible.
The process I have suggested will go a long way to reestablish and confi rm the public’s trust in their government. My recent election to a City Council seat charges me with that trust, something I will not betray.

VINCE RIGGI
Schenectady

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01106&AppName=1

That's a move in the right direction......Thank you Vince....