MAYORAL RUN PLAN
Councilman Koniowka says change is needed as he prepares to mount challenge for post
COHOES, N.Y.» Democratic 6th Ward Common Councilman Randy Koniowka announced Thursday his intentions to run for mayor next year.
Koniowka said the decision was not an easy one, but that he believes something must be done for the good of the city.
“We must restore honor and integrity to the office of the Mayor,” he said. “Let me be very clear here. Anyone that physically abuses or has physically abused a woman has no business being dog catcher let alone mayor.“
Koniowka said this is not about him being morally superior or perfect but that some things are beyond the pale.
“We are all sinners, nobody is perfect,” he said. “However, physical abuse of women is really at the bottom of the barrel. You can’t get that much lower.”
Democratic Mayor Shawn Morse, who is in his third year of his first four year term, has not formally announced his plans to run again, but did say that he is proud of the work that his administration has accomplished in his short time in office.
“We are working tirelessly around the clock to move Cohoes into a All-America City,” Morse said. “We have seen in-
credible transformations in a very short time, with over a $100 million of new investment, a music hall that has seen a resurgence, the addition of Park Playhouse to our community, a new $1.5 million [Canal Square] Park that will start next year, new sidewalks, new streetcapes, new roads all the way down Remsen Street, four new restaurants, 12 new businesses, Mosiac Village, $150,000 renovation to Veteran’s Park, two years of zero tax increases and new housing being built on Remsen Street, so we’re very proud of those accomplishments.
“But our greatest accomplishment is also $15 million renovation of [Route 787], all of these were accomplished within our first term.”
Morse also spoke briefly about Koniowka feeling he is not fit to be in office due to his domestic abuse allegations and investigation.
“It’s really sad that the only thing a man can point to is to attack another man’s family and any man that would try to embarrass another man’s family for his own personal gain is reasons why people should never vote for him,” Morse said.
Koniowka has outlined a platform that he says will establish open and honest government and a government that will serve all residents equally.
“What we have now is a government that is not for the people but for a select few of friends, family and those politically connected to the administration,” he said. “We need to get rid of this good ole boy way of pol- itics in our city and establish a government that plays by the rules and works for all of the people.”
Koniowka added this especially applies to how the administration has engaged in economic development.
“They hand out cash to wealthy developers and banks,” he said. “Millions in tax abatements and grants are handed out all at taxpayer expense and individuals are paid nearly 130k a year in city hall.
“In turn we have development that doesn’t pay their fare share of taxes and brings increased traffic, strain on our water and sewer systems, public safety and roadways.”
Koniowka added he believes the current administration under Morse is not a government for the citizens.
“We also need a government that is open and honest. What we have now is an administration that works behind closed doors and has a “my way or the highway” attitude. Nobody knows what’s going on not even the Common Council,” Koniowka said. “They bully everyone that tries to engage in simple dialogue.
“We need to bring city government into the light of day, empower the Common Council, encourage civic participation and create a climate of good government that our citizens deserve.”
Koniowka said the city is long overdue for a capital improvement program that address infrastructure across the city.
“The administration has focused their attention on one single block of the city in the Downtown,” he said. “And while that block is lovely, it has come at the expense of neglected roads, sidewalks, water lines, parks, public spaces and public buildings across the city.
“They have not even been able to properly collect lawn bags. We need to invest in ALL of our city not just one block of Downtown.”
Gil Ethier, Cohoes Democratic Chairman, said on Thursday afternoon that Koniowka did inform him of his intentions to run for mayor next year and that he requested to meet with the committee.
“[Koniowka] has always been the voice of a critic against the administration since he’s been a councilman,” said Ethier, who is also an Albany County Legislator. “I believe that [ Koniowka] believes that he can do a better job, but that remains to be seen, you know anybody can say they want to do it, but when you get in there you have to do it and I think [Morse] so far has been doing the things he said he would do. Shawn Morse should be Mayor of the City of Cohoes, he’s done an excellent job, if the committee was to vote today on the choice for Mayor of the City of Cohoes, there’s no doubt in my mind, Shawn Morse, would receive the nomination.”
Other components of Koniowka’s platform include lowering property taxes, restructuring every city department to reflect modern needs, ethics reform and charter changes that will empower the Common Council.
Koniowka is a 4th generation resident of Cohoes. He is a graduate of Cohoes schools and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the State University of New York. He is also a Cohoes historian and a published author on Cohoes history.