The Albany County Democratic Committee last week unanimously endorsed the re-election of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, City Treasurer Darius Shahinfar, Common Council President Corey Ellis, and Chief City Auditor Dorcey Applyrs.
The endorsement was the first time Sheehan received it unanimously. In 2013, Ellis – then a former councilman – contended with the then-city treasurer for the mayoral nomination. In 2017, then-councilman Frank Commisso challenged Sheehan on the Democratic line.
Shahinfar faced a similar challenge in 2013 when he faced County Legislator Gary Domalewicz for the city treasurer role. Ellis was also challenged in 2017, when he ran against then-County Legislator Chris Higgins for common council president.
Applyrs, who had been councilmember for the first ward, is seeking her first full term as chief city auditor. Sheehan appointed Applyrs to the role in 2019 after then-city auditor Susan Rizzo was elected Albany County Comptroller.
Sheehan currently faces at least five opponents presently as reported by the Times Union.
Below is a statement from the four officials, issued Thursday evening:
“We are tremendously grateful and appreciative of the Albany County Democratic Committee’s endorsement of our re-elections for Mayor, Common Council President, Chief City Auditor, and City Treasurer. Thanks to Chairman Jake Crawford, the candidate selection committee, the committee as a whole, and all of our supporters who believe through working together we can achieve so much more. We are committed to shepherding Albany through this pandemic and onward to a recovery that lifts every neighborhood up, and as members of the party of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, working families and our frontline heroes, we have the vision, the experience, and the effectiveness to move Albany forward.”
