Crummey seeks supervisor’s seat
Longtime Colonie justice hopes to break Democrats’ streak
Town Justice Peter Crummey has resigned from the bench to run as a Republican for Colonie supervisor.
Crummey is taking advantage of a vacancy in the post as Supervisor Paula Mahan, a Democrat, is not seeking reelection. It is the first time there will not be an incumbent running for the seat since the 1990s; Mahan beat longtime supervisor Mary Brizzell, a Republican, in 2007.
“I believe the town residents deserve a collaborative approach to governance,” said Crummey, who got one of his first jobs as an attorney for the town in 1980 and worked under Republican and Democratic supervisors. “I believe too that I have the disposition to preserve that which is important to our town residents and have the ability to improve,” on what is needed, he said.
Crummey resigned from his justice position March 4, after serving in that elected role for 21
years. He also previously served as a deputy town attorney, Zoning Board attorney and was an Albany County legislator.
The Republican has long been involved in politics. In 1986, Crummey ran unsuccessfully against then state Sen. Howard Nolan — showing up to a news conference with a cardboard dummy of Nolan, protesting the fact that the 42nd District senator wouldn’t debate him, according to the Times Union’s archives. Crummy also unsuccessfully ran in a GOP primary against Assemblyman Bob Prentiss in 1996, when Crummy was minority leader of the County Legislature.
He said that repairing roads and the town’s water system are a top priority — and said an estimated $8 million in stimulus money coming to the town should be prioritized for that. Crummey also said that he wants to evaluate rules and standards around commercial and residential development, both of which continue to grow in the town of more than 80,000 people.
Crummey, who is starting the petitioning process along with other candidates, would face Kelly Mateja, a Democrat. Mateja, a former Colonie town planner, is assistant director of communications for the state Office for Aging. Prior to that, she was the director of programs and services for Colonie Senior Service
Centers.
Republicans might see a way to take control of the town’s top post for the first time since 2007, as Mahan very narrowly won reelection in 2019. Republican George Scaringe only lost by about 100 votes out of more than 20,000 cast. However, Mahan at the time said she thought the 2019 election was close because of low voter turnout; that race brought in about 3,000 fewer votes.
Mahan, a retired teacher, was the first Democrat to win the Colonie supervisor’s post since 1931.
The job carries $123,006 salary this year, according to the town’s adopted budget. Crummey, who has a law office currently, said he will not represent clients if he is elected supervisor.