Mayor Ann Thane officially announced she will be seeking re-election to a third term of office yesterday evening. In message posted on Facebook, she wrote “It’s official. After much nudging from friends and family, I’m running for a third term.”
First running on the Democratic Party line in 2007, Thane became the first woman to hold the office of mayor in the city of Amsterdam, winning a four-way race with Republican party candidate Anthony Pollata, Conservative party candidate and former mayor John Duchessi, and write-in candidate and current alderwoman Diane Hatzenbuhler. She was successful in winning her second term in 2011 against Republican party candidate and former mayor Joseph Emanuele, and write-in candidate and former alderman Bill Wills. Last November, Republican candidate Michael Villa announced his intention to run for the office this year.
Yesterday evening,Thane described her years in office so far as “tremendously fulfilling and exciting.” She said her desire is to continue to work on some of the large economic development projects that are currently in progress in the city such as developing the old Chalmer’s property, the renovation of the downtown hotel, re-location of the train station to downtown, the Waterfront Heritage BOA, as well as continued work with the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council and other projects.
Thane said she has been deliberating on the decision to run for several months now, and that her family is very supportive of her re-election bid. Of her husband Peter, she said, “he’s very proud of the work we are doing.” She said she was “eager to get out and walk the wards” again this election season because “you really get a sense of the community.” Thane said that the city is starting to see “real success” and referred to her website mayorthane.com for more details.
(Photo by Mitch Wojnarowicz)
