Field of candidates grows for Albany City Commission, mayor’s races

ALBANY — With time running down to qualify for the city of Albany’s municipal election, the pool of mayoral candidates had doubled from two to four and a rarely challenged city commissioner had drawn an opponent for the first time in several election cycles.

Joining the field of candidates seeking the mayor’s position on Wednesday were Omar Salaam, who ran for the office four years ago, and Antonio Screen Sr.

In Albany City Commission Ward I, Lawrence A. McCray has qualified to challenge long-serving incumbent Jon Howard, who was first elected in 1993.

A fifth candidate could join the quest for mayor on Friday, as current Ward IV Commissioner Chad Warbington is weighing the decision of whether to seek re-election for that position or to qualify as a mayoral candidate.

“I’m undecided as of today,” Warbington, whose first four-term expires at the end of the year, said Thursday. “Tomorrow will be my decision day.”

The Ward IV commissioner said he had no issues with Mayor Bo Dorough, who qualified to seek a second term on Monday.

“I’m committed to Albany,” he said. “My businesses are here. My family’s here. I guess I’m trying to decide where I best plug in and can help move Albany forward.

“I would say in general Mayor Dorough and I have a good relationship. It’s nothing against Mayor Dorough at all.”

In addition to Dorough, Henry Mathis, a former commission member, also qualified on Monday.

Other candidates who had been confirmed as qualifying this week by the Dougherty County elections office were incumbent Ward VI Commissioner Demetrius Young and, for Ward IV, retired certified medical dosimetrist Larry Harris.

The qualifying for the Nov. 7 elections ends at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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