ROBERT GAVIN
hree incumbent judges. Two public defenders. A seasoned elections attorney. A city police lieutenant. Meet the seven candidates for Albany City Court this fall, a septet of Democrats seeking three 10-year terms in one of the most wide-open races to hit the capital city in years.
In Albany, winning the Democratic primary is tantamount to victory. This year, the candidates have competition — a lot of competition.
The incumbents are Helena Heath, whose term is up, and Holly Trexler and John Reilly, whom Mayor Kathy Sheehan appointed in December to fill vacancies created by former City Court Judge William Carter’s ascension to Albany County Court and the departure of former Judge Thomas Keefe, who resigned while facing allegations of misconduct and a possible ouster from the bench.
Also running are county Alternate Public Defender Sherri Brooks, Assistant Public Defender LaVonda Collins, veteran Albany elections and defense lawyer James Long, and Michael Barone, an Albany police lieutenant.
Long ran against now-City Court Judge Joshua Farrell last year but was thwarted because Farrell challenged the validity of his petitions. That’s not the case now with Long or any of the candidates.
The most recent filings with the state Board of Elections would indicate Heath, Trexler, Long and Reilly as the leading candidates, but there is alot of time left.
Here is a rundown (top money raisers listed higher):
• Heath, 54, admitted to the state bar in 1988, has raised $45,638 and spent $29,344. She has $17,256 remaining.
• Trexler, 45, admitted to the state bar in 1998, has raised $40,995 and spent $22,969. She has $18,026 left.
• Long, 65, who was admitted to the state bar in 1979, has raised $39,998 and spent $23,410. His remaining amount is $16,555.
• Reilly, 58, admitted to the state bar in 1988, has raised $37,128 (including $2,500 in loans) and spent $26,935. He has $10,192 remaining.
• Barone, 50, admitted to the state bar in 2002, has raised $14,750 (all but $250 from himself) and spent $8,549. He has $6,200 remaining.
• Brooks,39, admitted to the state bar in 2004, has raised $12,760 and spent $8,937. She has $3,822 remaining.
• Collins, 43, admitted to the state bar in 2005, has raised $4,211 and spent $2,047. She has $2,164 remaining.
• rgavin@timesunion. com • 518-434-2403 • @ RobertGavinTU