Schenectady voters need to be aware

As Schenectady Democrats prepare to cast their votes this fall, it’s worth examining how internal party politics have shaped the City Council ballot.

Earlier this year, longtime Council President Marion Porterfield and Councilmember Damonni Farley, both registered Democrats, were left off the Democratic line after the county committee withdrew its endorsement and their petitions were challenged on technical grounds.

Porterfield and Farley are still running for re-election under the Working Families Party banner, saying they want to continue representing independent, community-based voices.

Meanwhile, advocates and civic leaders have voiced concern that the exclusion of these incumbents, both of whom are Black, signals an unhealthy concentration of power within the city’s Democratic organization and a narrowing of intra-party debate.

Whatever one’s opinion, these developments highlight the importance of transparency and inclusivity in local party processes.

Schenectady’s voters should be aware of how their ballot came to be and decide for themselves what kind of representation they want in City Hall.

Matt Mangold

Schenectady

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