SCHENECTADY — Trading insults about leadership failures, Mayor Gary McCarthy and City Council President Marion Porterfield sparred in an hour-long debate Thursday.
Porterfield described McCarthy as a mayor isolated from the council while McCarthy, running for a fourth term, described the seven-member council as a dysfunctional legislative body.
The two are vying for the Democratic Party’s nomination for mayor and the winner will take on Republican Matt Nelligan in the general election.
The debate was hosted by The Daily Gazette at SUNY Schenectady this month because the candidates will face each other in the June 27 primary.
McCarthy, 66, has been mayor since April 2011, while Porterfield, 67, has been on the City Council since April 2012.
McCarthy has touted his body of work during his tenure, including efforts to demolish eyesores and sell foreclosed properties as ways to revive distressed neighborhoods, but Porterfield said she doesn’t see much progress in certain parts of the Central State Street and Mont Pleasant neighborhoods.
At the debate, the candidates were asked about “infighting” at the City Council. McCarthy called the council “dysfunctional” and urged voters to contrast Porterfield’s leadership on the council to his track record as mayor.
“Working together works,” he said. “It produces results.”
Porterfield said he wasn’t working with the council, accusing him of being “a team of one.” She also said she had tried to meet with council members, asking them how they can work together.
“There have been some challenges, but it’s not without making the effort,” she said.
The candidates also disagreed on staffing, with Porterfield saying that taxpayers should “get the services they’re paying for.”
She has pledged to increase staffing levels across all departments…
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