Gerald D. Jennings
Gerald David Jennings | |
|---|---|
| File:Jenningslob.JPG | |
| 74th Mayor of Albany, New York | |
| Assumed office January 1, 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Michael Whalen III |
| Personal details | |
| Born | small 1948 Albany, New York |
| Died | small |
| Resting place | small |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Parent |
|
| Alma mater | SUNY Brockport, UAlbany |
| Profession | Educator |
Gerald David "Jerry" Jennings (b. 1948 in Albany, NY) 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 fourth term. By the end of this term, he will be the third longest serving mayor in Albany's history (after Erastus Corning 2nd and Philip S. Van Rensselaer).
Background
The mayor often goes by the name Jerry. Born in North Albany, 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.[1]
Illegal guns
Mayor Jennings is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[2], 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 [3] 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. [4] The current Chief of Police is the fifth appointed by Jennings. [5] The matter has still not been resolved, and no indictments have been filed.[6]
Parking ticket scandal
In November 2008, local media [7] 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; 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.
Albany budget
Albany has a strong-mayor form of government in which the city legislature (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.
Recent elections
In the 2006 primary, Jennings was voted out of his position on the New York State Democratic Committee 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.
Upcoming reelection effort
The Albany Times Union [8] reported on November 25, 2008 that the Mayor would seek reelection 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."[9] Jennings has an opponent for the primary, Albany Common Council member Corey Ellis. Ellis announced his candidacy for the Democratic primary on March 2, 2009.
Electoral history
2005 election for Mayor of Albany
- Gerald D. Jennings (D) (inc.), 68.6%
- Alice Green (G), 24.8%
- Joseph P. Sullivan (R), 6.5%
2006 election for New York State Democratic Committee [5]
- John McEneny, 6,346
- Gerald D. Jennings, 5,589
References
External links
Template:NY cities and mayors of 100,000 population
TRAVEL ON BUDWEISER WAGON:
In summer 2008, Mayor Jennings had the Budweiser wagon ride through downtown Albany and rode the wagon, accompanied by a police escort. His reasoning for the move is not entirely known, but urban legend has it that his mayoral opponent drank Miller Lite.