It may still be brisk out, but the political landscape in Colonie and across Rensselaer County is starting to warm up.

Gwen Wright, a former state official, earned the endorsement by the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee Monday evening as she seeks to unseat Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin. McLaughlin, a former state assemblyman who was elected as county executive in 2017, has seen his profile rise as a major critic of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The county executive is also seen as a potential 2022 GOP gubernatorial candidate, alongside Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Tom Reed, Rep. Lee Zeldin, and 2018 nominee and Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. McLaughlin beat then-deputy county executive Chris Meyer in 2017 in the primary before defeating Democrat non-profit executive Andrea Smyth in the general election.

Wright will face tough odds against McLaughlin, who reported more than $220,000 cash-on-hand according to his January 2021 Board of Elections disclosure.

In the Town of Colonie, Democrat Kelly Mateja kicked off her campaign over the weekend as she seeks to replace outgoing Town Supervisor Paula Mahan. Mateja, according to her campaign website, has served the Town of Colonie for the past twenty years.
As Colonie’s first professional town planner, Mateja led hundreds of public meetings and listening sessions, worked on the town’s first Comprehensive Plan, and helped start the Crossings Farmers’ Market. At the New York State Office for the Aging, Mateja leads the communications team, getting the word out about critical services available to older New Yorkers.

The open seat is expected to draw a number of potential challenges from the Republican line, including former town board member Jennifer Whalen and George Scaringe, Mahan’s 2019 opponent.

In the City of Rensselaer, Democrat Rich Mooney, the city’s former mayor and council president, announced his candidacy by video Monday evening. Mooney, a longtime Assembly staffer, will face Republican Mayor Michael Stammel, who defeated Mooney in a special election to succeed Mayor Dan Dwyer, who passed away in office in late 2018.

Stammel, who is also the Rensselaer County Legislature chairman, has vowed to run for a full term despite the Rensselaer Common Council voting on a measure prohibiting office holders from occupying both a city and a county post.

Ballot petitioning in New York State starts in a couple of weeks, in which it will expected more candidates will be making their intentions known.