Town of Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan announced this past weekend that she will be seeking reelection for a fifth term.
Mahan announced her 2016 reelection bid on Sunday, May 3, at an Albany County Democratic Party office on Central Avenue. She was joined by family and other Democratic Party supporters, including Representative Paul Tonko.
“It’s been a pleasure serving the residents of our great town for the past eight years, and I look forward to continuing what we started to ensure Colonie remains a great place to live, work and raise a family,” said Mahan in a released statement.
Mahan was first elected in 2008 and was faced with a nearly $20 million deficit in the town’s budget, which has since been closed. As well, dozens of new businesses have opened up, including first national retailers in the Capital District, under Mahan’s office.
The Town of Colonie GOP has yet to announce any candidates for town offices, but it is expected to in the coming weeks. Mahan defeated her Republican opponent Todd Drake in the previous 2014 election with 11,836 votes to his 8,186. Drake, like Mahan’s previous opponents, questioned her administration’s transparency and the 10-year plan to close the town’s deficit.
In Mahan’s State of the Town address from earlier this year, she said she would continue to work this year on the town’s aging infrastructure, which recently saw damage as Colonie was plagued with water main breaks this past winter.
However, the town’s budget has been one of largest issues Mahan has dealt with since first sworn in. In 2008, the town was faced with a balance of zero in its reserve fund balance. As of early this year, that balance was at $2.6 million, with Mahan’s goal to bring it $4 million.
Taxes will be another concentration of Mahan’s during the political season. Mahan has previously worked to continue keeping the tax levy level for residents, as the town has one of the Capital District’s lowest tax rates, according to Mahan in her State of the Town address.
“We have made the tough decisions to reduce the size of the town government while maintaining the level of services Colonie residents want, all while holding the line on property taxes, and that’s the message we will bring to voters over the next few months,” Mahan said in her statement.
