Rematch looming in Rensselaer race
Democrat Mooney says he’ll challenge mayoral incumbent Stammel
City voters are watching a rematch of the 2019 special election for mayor develop as Democrat Rich Mooney has announced he will seek the office he held two years ago and lost to Republican Mayor Michael Stammel.
“Our city is at a crossroads — one of going backwards, reversing the strides we’ve made to move Rensselaer forward. We cannot afford to further derail our city’s hopes and vision due to a lack of real leadership in the Mayor’s office,” Mooney said in a statement issued Monday night.
Mooney and Stammel battled each other two years ago in the 2019 special election, which was called after Democratic Mayor Dan Dwyer died. This time the two opponents will run for a full fouryear term instead of seeking to fill the remaining two years of Dwyer’s unexpired term.
Stammel won the 2019 election by a vote of 1,190-1,026. Stammel’s successful run was fueled by running on four lines, a traditional GOP strategy in Rensselaer County, promoting his ability to deliver county services as chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature, and public uproar over the controversial S.A. Dunn Landfill near Renssealer city schools.
“I welcome him to the race. I think the people made a wise decision (in 2019) letting Mr. Mooney go and bringing me in,” Stammel said Tuesday.
Stammel, the lone elected Republican in the city, has had a contentious relationship with the all-democrat Common Council. Tensions came to a head when the council overrode Stammel’s veto to adopt a local law that forbids a local official elected to city office from holding other elected offices.
The law, modeled on one in neighboring East Greenbush, was seen as targeting Stammel, who is a dual officeholder in the city and county. Neighboring North Greenbush allows dual office holding, which permits Councilwoman Kelly Hoffman to serve in the County Legislature.
Stammel confirmed he would step away from his seat on the County Legislature where he has represented the city for 20 years. Stammel rose to be chairman of the legislature.
Mooney’s campaign announcement highlighted healing the relationship between the common council and the mayor’s office if he is elected.
“I will get this city back on track. Working together, not against, our Common Council. To bring dignity and competence back to City Hall,” Mooney said.
Mooney said he also wants to “make our city a cleaner and greener place to live, a safer community for all of us, and to provide opportunities for new development and growth to expand our tax base.” This can be seen as an attempt to deal with the city’s environmental issues that were factors in his 2019 defeat.
Stammel said Mooney backed the city’s deal with the Dunn landfill and has been involved in other environmentally questionable projects. The landfill generates about $1 million annually in payments to the city coffers. Stammel said he has brought professionalism to the mayor’s office and city operations.
Mooney works for the state Assembly speaker’s communication department. He previously served as Common Council president, which resulted in him becoming mayor when Dwyer died.