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Politics & Government

Incumbents Wile, Atkinson, Zweben and Black Have Taken out Papers to Run for Office This Fall

None have filed so far.

Six vacant seats await Albany citizens who hope to run for office this fall. 

Two seats on the City Council will open up, as will three seats on the School Board. The position of city attorney also will open, though the current attorney, Robert Zweben, has had the position since 1978. 

On the council, Mayor Joanne Wile and Councilwoman Marge Atkinson will be up for re-election. Both have already taken out papers to run this fall, said City Clerk Jacqueline Bucholz on Thursday. Both said this week (of July 19) they intend to run.

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Resident Francesco Papalia also has taken out papers for a possible run at the council, said Bucholz. Papalia is a member of the Waterfront Committee, and made a run at the City Council several years ago.

Albany resident Caryl O'Keefe has taken out papers as well, Bucholz said Friday. O'Keefe sits on the city's Charter Review Committee.

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None of the four has filed papers. The filing period began July 12. 

Zweben also has taken out papers to run for re-election, the clerk said. 

Terms for elected positions in Albany last four years. A resolution that will appear on the fall ballot could impact the term for the city attorney; under consideration is a change that would make the position appointed rather than elected. 

If the resolution passes, the winner will serve one year as an elected official. After that period, Bucholz said, the position would become an appointed one.

Candidates need from 20 to 30 signatures on a nomination form to win a place on the ballot. 

Three School Board seats, those held by Miriam Walden, Paul Black and David Glasser will open in the fall. Walden will already have served two terms, or eight years, making her ineligible for re-election. 

Black had taken out papers as of July 20, said Bucholz.

On July 21, Jonathan Knight also took out papers for the Board of Education.

To hold an elected office in Albany, a person must be a United States citizen; be an elector of the city; and have been a resident of Albany for 30 days prior to his or her nomination.

The nomination period for candidates hoping to run this fall ends Aug. 6 at 12:30 p.m.

Learn more about Albany elections here, via the city website, and here on Patch.

[Editor's note: This story was originally filed July 16, and was updated July 21.]

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