Kathy Sheehan

Katherine "Kathy" Sheehan (born December 5, 1963) is the current Mayor of Albany, New York. Prior to being elected Mayor, Sheehan served as City Treasurer from 2010 to 2014. On September 10, 2013, she defeated Corey Ellis in the Democratic primary for mayor of Albany. She later won the general election, becoming the first female mayor in Albany's history and the first new mayor of Albany in 20 years. Sheehan was re-elected Mayor in November 2017.

Early life and career

Sheehan's mother was a nurse, and her father joined the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He went on to build a successful career in the insurance business, and together they raised six children.

Sheehan graduated from Albany Law School. She started her legal career as an attorney in the Albany office of Bond, Schoeneck & King. In 1996, she joined Intermagnetics General Corporation, a leading medical device manufacturer based in Latham. As vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Kathy helped grow the company from 500 employees to more than 1,200 and from $90 million in sales to more than $300 million. In 2006, she helped negotiate the $1.3 billion acquisition of Intermagnetics by its largest customer, Philips Medical Systems.

In 2009, Sheehan was elected City Treasurer of Albany, New York. She took office in 2010. As city treasurer, Sheehan was responsible for increasing parking tickets from $15 to $65 in less than four years to make up for decreased tax inflows during the recession.

Mayor of Albany

On November 17, 2012, Sheehan announced herself as a candidate for mayor.^[1]

On September 10, 2013, Sheehan defeated former Common Councilor Corey Ellis in the Democratic primary.^[2] Sheehan won the Democratic nomination with 7,468 votes (65.72%) to Ellis's 3,294 votes (29%), with 601 write-in votes (5.29%) and a few void and blank ballots.^[3] Albany is so heavily Democratic that Sheehan effectively clinched the mayoralty with her victory in the Democratic primary. On November 5, Sheehan won the general election with over 83% of the total vote.^[4]

In her 2017 re-election bid, Sheehan faced opposition from Common Council President Carolyn McLaughlin and Common Councilor Frank Commisso Jr in the Democratic primary; Sheehan won the primary with 51% of the vote.^[5] Sheehan was re-elected Mayor on November 7, 2017, winning 70% of the vote; Commisso received 22% of the vote as an independent candidate.^[6]

Personal life

In February 2017, Sheehan--along with Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy and Congressman Paul Tonko--was criticized by Bishop Edward Scharfenberger for being Catholic politicians who supported and attended a rally for Planned Parenthood.^[7]

On April 11, 2017, Christopher Hardy--the biological older brother of Sheehan's adopted son Jay--was shot dead in Albany's second homicide of the year.^[8]

References

External links

• Office of the city treasurer
• Mayoral campaign