ALBANY — In a city where Democrats have ruled for nearly a century, two mayoral candidates will vie for the Green Party line in September.

Park South resident Bryan Jimenez, 22, recently announced his plans to run for Albany mayor as a Green, forcing a primary against 28-year-old Sheridan Hollow resident Dan Plaat.

There hasn’t been a Green Party primary for Albany mayor since 2001. However, in recent years, Green Party candidates from the local to the federal level have grabbed attention and votes.

“Historically we’ve done very well” in local elections, said city resident Peter LaVenia, who is co-chair of the statewide Green Party and a member of the Upper Hudson Green Party. “There have been times where the Greens have come very close.”

In 2007, Green Party candidate David Lussier was defeated by a Democrat by 23 votes for Albany County legislator, and in 2005, Alice Green, the executive director of the Center for Law and Justice in Albany, garnered 5,548 votes for mayor against incumbent Jerry Jennings's 14,295.

LaVenia also pointed to prominent party members like Jill Stein and Ralph Nader as evidence of the growth and interest in the third party, which offers an alternative to the major party politics.

“People being less interested in mainstream parties and more interested in change – that’s what we represent,” LaVenia said. “We’re looking to shake up the discourse and talk about issues not necessarily being talked about in the media and campaign.”

Yet Green Party enrollment is down in the city since April 2016, from 237 to 204.

The Upper Hudson Green Party, which covers Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga counties, did not endorse Jimenez or Plaat, allowing the voters instead to determine who moves forward, LaVenia said.

More people coming to party meetings want to participate, he said. “I also think there is certainly a discontent with the one party in Albany – the Democratic Party.”

Some political insiders argue votes for the Green Party could lead to fewer votes for Democrats, particularly those who are progressive.

But Albany County Democratic Committee Chairman Jack Flynn said he doesn't expect there to be that big a swing so that a Democrat wouldn't win the general election.

"History will tell you whoever wins the Democratic Primary has a 99 percent chance of winning the general election," he said. "The Democrats are still very core to their values with the party. I don't see people switching alliances."

Overall, the two Green candidates’ messages parallel, both seeking a more participatory, collective government and focusing on issues that matter to Albany residents – like public safety and transportation.

Where they diverge is in their strategies moving forward. Both want to change the taxing structure in the city, but Jimenez wants to do away with property taxes and fund the city budget through income tax. Plaat wants taxes based on land value.

Originally from New York City, Jimenez has lived in Albany for four years and aims to introduce grassroots-based programs when it comes to business development and public safety.

Jimenez said a cooperative business program would allow city residents to own a stake in a business they’d operate themselves, while an auxiliary police program would have well-trained volunteers to supplement the city police department’s force.

“We could look at New York City’s program – it’s one of the better ones in the nation – and try to implement something similar where you have deeper community involvement” in public safety, he said.

Democratic mayoral candidates and party affiliates have taken to social media and the press to criticize their opponents, but Green Party candidates say often no solutions are offered and the concerns of average residents aren’t brought up.

“Bryan and I are not attacking each other, or saying how one or the other is going about things wrong,” Plaat said. “I would say that building interparty relationships makes the party and myself, stronger. Having an open and noncompetitive conversation is healthy, and part of a sustainable future and more civil politics.”

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