It just wouldn’t be October without developments from the supervisor race in the Town of Colonie.
On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Albany County Conservative Party Chairman Richie Stack announced that he has filed an official complaint with the Albany County District Attorney’s office against Town of Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan regarding campaign contributions she has received.
A $1,000 donation made by Jerry Cifor, formerly CFO at County Waste, which became Waste Connections, is being questioned by Stack because it was made during an open request for proposals process for an operating agreement for the town’s landfill. He is also questioning a donation made by Waste Management that was made during the RFP process.
Stack said he feels it calls Mahan’s ethics into question and added that he is curious as to what kind of action the district attorney will take.
“This says a lot about the bidding process and how contaminated it was,” he said. “There is a lot to be desired if it is true. I want to see what the district attorney will do about this blatant abuse.”
Mahan said that she has no interest in getting involved in what is generally known as the “silly season” of politics and added that she understands Stack is working with her opponent, Republican candidate for supervisor Denise Sheehan.
She doesn’t believe she has done anything wrong as she said that all of the other candidates have fundraisers that people donating money, and that she is no different.
“First of all, many of us know Richie Stack and his lack of character, which is very apparent,” she said. “I have fundraisers just like every other candidate and people attend if they want to come… This is the silly season and unfortunately we have people like Richie Stack around who clearly shows a lack of character.”
Also this week, Mahan said some of her signs near Lisha Kill Road have been stolen. She, again, notched it up to another act during the “silly season.”
“These are the kind of things going on,” she said. “It’s just dirty politics.”
Things aren’t any different for Sheehan as she said she has heard reports of her signs being stolen in multiple locations in the town. Once a resident who has a Sheehan sign on their lawn has it stolen, she said she gets a call from them.
“We get several calls a day,” she said. “We just go out and put up new ones.”
It’s upsetting, she said, as she doesn’t want anyone touching her signs or her opponent’s. The signs are a symbol of support for a candidate, she said, and it is something that’s a part of the election season.
“I ask my supporters to not touch my opponent’s signs,” she said. “Lawn signs don’t win elections, votes do.”
Sheehan has also announced three meetings around town where she hopes to hear from residents of the town about their concerns and their needs for the future of the town.
Those meetings will take place on Oct. 11 at the West Albany Fire Department, Oct. 19 at the Boght Fire Department and Oct. 25 at the Midway Fire Department.
In an earlier version of this story online and appearing in print referred to Jerry Cifor as an employee of Waste Connections. Cifor had left County Waste before the company became Waste Connections.
