Gerald Jennings
Encyclopedia
Gerald David "Jerry" Jennings (born July 31, 1948) is the mayor
of Albany, New York
, United States. A Democrat
, Jennings won a shocking upset in the 1993 mayoral primary
over Harold Joyce, who had the Democratic Party’s formal endorsement and had only recently been its chairman. In 1993, he won the general election, becoming the 74th mayor of Albany. Jennings is currently serving his fifth term. By the end of this term, he will be the second longest serving mayor in Albany's history, tied with Philip S. Van Rensselaer (Erastus Corning 2nd
at 42 years in office holds the record not just for Albany but also as the longest serving mayor in the United States).
he began his career in the Albany City School District
after graduating from SUNY Brockport and the University at Albany (M.S. '76) and served for 13 years on the Albany Common Council representing
the 11th Ward before being elected mayor. In a break from his party, Jennings endorsed George Pataki
, a Republican
, in the 2002 New York gubernatorial race. The mayor has also supported now-former U.S. Representative John E. Sweeney
(R-Clifton Park). Jennings has been a strong proponent of the plan to build a convention center
in downtown Albany. He hosts a call-in radio show on WGDJ every Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino
and New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
. The city is currently involved in a scandal regarding the purchase of roughly 52 machine guns. It is unclear whether the weapons were purchased for departmental use or for the use of private individuals. Weapons were delivered to Police Department addresses but apparently paid for with private funds. The Department has not produced a list of weapons, their location, or the names of the individuals who purchased them. At least one later turned up, illegally for sale to the public, in an area gun store. The Police officer who sold the gun to the store has testified that he bought it from a Police Union official who was also the Department's armorer. The current Chief of Police is the fifth appointed by Jennings. The matter has still not been resolved, and no indictments have been filed.
Local media and the Albany Common Council are seeking information on how extensive the system has become. Both the Mayor and his appointed Police Chief deny any knowledge of the system and have ordered it stopped. Mayor Jennings has so far refused to explain how he can state a policy is being ended that he claimed to know nothing about. Recently, the Times Union has uncovered that several private citizens were included on the V.I.P. no parking ticket list.
Albany 3rd Ward Common Council member Corey Ellis has led the call for an investigation into the scandal. Mr. Ellis and the Common Council voted in a special caucus session on 2/13/09 to have city employees who may have possible information on how this policy was instituted to testify under oath.
According to the NYS Comptroller's office, Mr. Ellis had received 19 no-fine tickets, 10 of which were not in the vicinity of City Hall, more than any other councilman. The Comptroller's office also stated its review did not find any registered to or specifically assigned to Mayor Jennings. However, "numerous" no-fine tickets were issued to two vehicles used by (but not registered to) Jennings. Mr. Ellis has responded that his car carried a placard authorized by the city, unlike the unauthorized VIP list and union-issued stickers.
(the Common Council
) can vote on the budget, but a two-thirds majority are needed to override any disagreement with the Mayor. Albany's current 2008 budget
of $161.8 million has been called a "bad budget" with significant borrowing from reserves to bring it into balance. In 2007, the Common Council voted 9-6 to support the mayor's budget, although no cost-cutting measures were proposed or adopted.
by state Assemblyman John McEneny
. The mayor had served on the committee since 2002. This race was a rematch of the 1997 primary, when McEneny unsuccessfully challenged Jennings for the Democratic mayoral nomination.
2006 election for New York State Democratic Committee http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=516421&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=9/13/2006
2009 Democratic Primary for Mayor of Albanyhttp://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=842410
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, United States. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Jennings won a shocking upset in the 1993 mayoral primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
over Harold Joyce, who had the Democratic Party’s formal endorsement and had only recently been its chairman. In 1993, he won the general election, becoming the 74th mayor of Albany. Jennings is currently serving his fifth term. By the end of this term, he will be the second longest serving mayor in Albany's history, tied with Philip S. Van Rensselaer (Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd was an American politician. He was Mayor of Albany, New York for more than 40 years, from 1942 to 1983, when Albany County was controlled by one of the last two classic urban political machines in the United States. Albany's longest serving mayor, the Democrat died in office in...
at 42 years in office holds the record not just for Albany but also as the longest serving mayor in the United States).
Background
The mayor often goes by the name Jerry. Born in North AlbanyNorth Albany, Albany, New York
North Albany is a neighborhood in the city of Albany, New York, originally a hamlet in the town of Watervliet. First settled in the mid-1600s by the Patroon of Rensselaerswyck and his tenants. Due to the Erie Canal being constructed through here in 1825 North Albany saw immense growth with the...
he began his career in the Albany City School District
Albany City School District
The City School District of Albany is the public school district of Albany, New York. The district is an independent public entity. It is governed by the City School District of Albany Board of Education, whose members are elected in non-partisan elections for staggered, four-year terms...
after graduating from SUNY Brockport and the University at Albany (M.S. '76) and served for 13 years on the Albany Common Council representing
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
the 11th Ward before being elected mayor. In a break from his party, Jennings endorsed George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, in the 2002 New York gubernatorial race. The mayor has also supported now-former U.S. Representative John E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney
John E. Sweeney is a politician from the U.S. state of New York. A Republican, he represented New York's 20th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from January 1999 to January 2007. He was defeated for reelection in November 2006 by Democrat Kirsten...
(R-Clifton Park). Jennings has been a strong proponent of the plan to build a convention center
Convention center
A convention center is a large building that is designed to hold a convention, where individuals and groups gather to promote and share common interests. Convention centers typically offer sufficient floor area to accommodate several thousand attendees...
in downtown Albany. He hosts a call-in radio show on WGDJ every Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Illegal guns
Mayor Jennings is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns CoalitionMayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
. The city is currently involved in a scandal regarding the purchase of roughly 52 machine guns. It is unclear whether the weapons were purchased for departmental use or for the use of private individuals. Weapons were delivered to Police Department addresses but apparently paid for with private funds. The Department has not produced a list of weapons, their location, or the names of the individuals who purchased them. At least one later turned up, illegally for sale to the public, in an area gun store. The Police officer who sold the gun to the store has testified that he bought it from a Police Union official who was also the Department's armorer. The current Chief of Police is the fifth appointed by Jennings. The matter has still not been resolved, and no indictments have been filed.
Parking ticket scandal
In November 2008, local media reported that for 15 years the Albany Police Department has engaged in an unapproved effort to avoid parking fines. It is claimed that an unofficial, secret sticker system resulted in "zero fine" tickets being issued to an unknown number of local drivers. The sticker system originated as a means of allowing off-duty police officers to park during court appearances as parking in downtown Albany can be difficult. The system may have expanded far beyond the original intent, however. Allegations have been made that some local nightclub owners have such stickers, for example.Local media and the Albany Common Council are seeking information on how extensive the system has become. Both the Mayor and his appointed Police Chief deny any knowledge of the system and have ordered it stopped. Mayor Jennings has so far refused to explain how he can state a policy is being ended that he claimed to know nothing about. Recently, the Times Union has uncovered that several private citizens were included on the V.I.P. no parking ticket list.
Albany 3rd Ward Common Council member Corey Ellis has led the call for an investigation into the scandal. Mr. Ellis and the Common Council voted in a special caucus session on 2/13/09 to have city employees who may have possible information on how this policy was instituted to testify under oath.
According to the NYS Comptroller's office, Mr. Ellis had received 19 no-fine tickets, 10 of which were not in the vicinity of City Hall, more than any other councilman. The Comptroller's office also stated its review did not find any registered to or specifically assigned to Mayor Jennings. However, "numerous" no-fine tickets were issued to two vehicles used by (but not registered to) Jennings. Mr. Ellis has responded that his car carried a placard authorized by the city, unlike the unauthorized VIP list and union-issued stickers.
Albany budget
Albany has a strong-mayor form of government in which the city legislatureLegislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
(the Common Council
Common Council
Common Council may refer to:* The Court of Common Council, an elected body of the City of London Corporation* Buffalo Common Council, the legislative branch of the Buffalo, NY City Government...
) can vote on the budget, but a two-thirds majority are needed to override any disagreement with the Mayor. Albany's current 2008 budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
of $161.8 million has been called a "bad budget" with significant borrowing from reserves to bring it into balance. In 2007, the Common Council voted 9-6 to support the mayor's budget, although no cost-cutting measures were proposed or adopted.
Recent elections
In the 2006 primary, Jennings was voted out of his position on the New York State Democratic CommitteeNew York State Democratic Committee
The New York State Democratic Committee runs the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New York. Its headquarters are in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, and it has an office in Albany.-List of chairpersons:...
by state Assemblyman John McEneny
John McEneny
John "Jack" McEneny is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and is currently a member of the New York State Assembly, representing about half of Albany County in the 104th Assembly District....
. The mayor had served on the committee since 2002. This race was a rematch of the 1997 primary, when McEneny unsuccessfully challenged Jennings for the Democratic mayoral nomination.
2009 reelection effort
The Albany Times Union reported on November 25, 2008, that the mayor would seek re-election for a fifth term in 2009. The story noted that "Safety in the city, with its youth violence and gun crimes, continues to mar Jennings' leadership and Albany's image." Jennings' opponent for the Democratic primary, Albany Common Council member Corey Ellis, announced his candidacy on March 2, 2009. (Common Council President Shawn Morris was originally also a candidate, but she dropped out over the summer.) Jennings won the primary, held on September 15, 2009, and went on to defeat Republican Nathan Lebron on November 3 in the general election.Electoral history
2005 election for Mayor of Albany-
- Gerald D. Jennings (D) (inc.), 68.6%
- Alice Green (GGreen Party (United States)The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
), 24.8% - Joseph P. Sullivan (R), 6.5%
2006 election for New York State Democratic Committee http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=516421&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=9/13/2006
-
- John McEnenyJohn McEnenyJohn "Jack" McEneny is an American politician of the Democratic Party, and is currently a member of the New York State Assembly, representing about half of Albany County in the 104th Assembly District....
, 6,346 - Gerald D. Jennings, 5,589
- John McEneny
2009 Democratic Primary for Mayor of Albanyhttp://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=842410
-
- Gerald D. Jennings, 7,615
- Corey Ellis, 5,971