Spectrum News 1 to host debate on 109th Assembly seat

The six Democratic candidates vying to represent the 109th State Assembly District will participate in a debate on Spectrum News 1.

Capital tonight Susan Arbetter will moderate the one-hour live debate, starting at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 14.

The 109th District represents the city of Albany and some of its western suburbs such as Guilderland and New Scotland. The race is attracting a lot of attention as current Assemblyman Pat Fahy is running for the state Senate seat vacated by longtime Sen. Neil Breslin, who is retiring. Fahy has held the Assembly seat since 2013.

The six Democratic candidates are no strangers to Albany politics.

Ginnie Farrell is the majority leader of the Albany Common Council and has served on the council since 2017, representing the 13th District. She currently works as a legislative analyst for the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee and previously worked for Fahy.

Owusu Anane represents the 10th Ward on the Albany Common Council. He is the son of immigrants from Ghana and became involved in politics while studying at UAlbany. During his two terms on the Common Council, Anane spoke out openly on police reform and the affordability of police in the city. He is a teacher at Woodland Hill Montessori School in East Greenbush.

Gabriella Romero currently represents Albany’s 6th Ward on the Common Council. She is a public defender and a graduate of Albany Law School. Romero has championed tenants’ rights, criminal justice reform and more. Romero secured the Working Families Party line in the general election.

Jack Flynn is the former chairman of the Albany County Democratic Committee and currently represents Albany’s 8th Ward on the Common Council. Flynn previously worked with the state bill-writing committee and was active in political campaigns in the Capital Region.

Dustin Reidy is a member of the Albany County Legislature, representing Guilderland. Reidy is deputy majority leader of the Legislature. He served as campaign manager for Rep. Paul Tonko and won support from unions.

Andrew Joyce is the former Speaker of the Albany County Legislature and represents parts of Albany, Slingerlands and North Bethlehem. Joyce is a veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He works as a critical infrastructure analyst with the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

Alicia Purdy, who ran for mayor of Albany in 2021, has the Republican Party and Conservative Party lines for the general election.

The primary elections will take place on June 25. Early voting begins Saturday.