ALBANY — No one seems to be left unscathed by parking tickets in Albany, and that includes city elected officials and candidates.

More than a dozen Albany officials and individuals seeking city office have unpaid parking tickets, with seven facing the possibility of being booted, according to city records. Motorists can be booted if fines and fees from tickets are over $200.

Earlier this year, the Times Union analyzed data on parking tickets issued and found the number handed out over the past three years has increased nearly 20 percent.

Some of the officials contacted by the paper were unaware of the outstanding tickets and scrambled to pay up Thursday after being alerted by a reporter.

Data posted on the city’s openAlbany website — current through May 1 — were verified with the Albany Treasurer’s Office, which maintains the most current information.

Belvidere Avenue resident Joanne Genovese, who is running for the 13th Ward council seat against Ginnie Farrell and Timothy Looker, said she owns several cars and has sold some recently, which may have caused confusion on the outstanding parking tickets she has in Albany.

“If there is anything outstanding, they’re going to be paid,” she said.

Genovese had four unpaid tickets (one for a vehicle she said is not hers), making her boot-eligible — but she’s not alone. Later Thursday she provided receipt of payment.

Mountain Street resident John O. Williamson, who is challenging Councilwoman Dorcey Applyrs for the 1st Ward as a Democrat, has racked up 11 unpaid tickets over seven years, and owes the city over $1,400 in fines and fees, according to city parking ticket records. (Applyrs has no unpaid tickets on file.)

Williamson did not return requests for comment.

Beverly Avenue resident Jahmel Robinson, who is seeking his Councilman Mark Robinson’s seat, has accrued at least five unpaid tickets. Jahmel Robinson also did not respond. (Mark Robinson is vacating his seat to run for council president; Jahmel Robinson is his nephew.)

Malcolm Thorpe, a challenger in the 5th Ward, has three unpaid parking tickets that he said he'd be addressing Thursday.

"I had some family stuff recently that caused me to not take care of those. Things happen," he said. "None the less they will be taken care of."

Cliffton Patterson and Nigel Banks, who are also running as Democrats for the 5th Ward, had no unpaid tickets on file.

Former Councilman Glen Casey, who is running for city auditor and previously has dealt with unpaid parking tickets, has four unpaid tickets. He sent the Times Union a screenshot a payment he made after being alerted.

“I usually pay them in bulk,” he said. “I must have given the city over $1,000 in a year because you get stuck in a meeting. Anybody who lives or works downtown, the parking issue is what it is.”

Some of the most ticketed streets – such as State and Washington and Madison avenues – stretch through downtown Albany.

Casey said he typically parks in a lot near the bus station to save money.

Current elected officials also faced the possibility of being booted, but were quick to pay up ahead of this report.

Councilman Frank Commisso Jr., who is challenging incumbent Kathy Sheehan and Council President Carolyn McLaughlin in a Democratic Primary for mayor, had three unpaid tickets. Contacted Thursday, he refused to comment on when they were paid. City records show payments were made shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, not long after the paper began making inquiries to officials with unpaid tickets.

Neither Sheehan nor McLaughlin have any outstanding tickets.

Councilman Judd Krasher, who represents the 11th Ward, also had racked up just over $200 in fees and fines making him boot-eligible, but also paid up Wednesday night.

Krasher insisted his decision to pay off his tickets just after the Times Union began making inquiries was a coincidence.

One of Krasher's challengers, Manning Square resident Beroro Efekoro, also is boot-eligible with three unpaid tickets.

Efekoro said he recently communicated with the city about these tickets, which he believes were given in error.

"I think the person I sold (my car) to, they had my registration still on the glass," he said. "I have already reached out to the city and they said they were going to get back to me."

Democrats Alfredo Balarin and Clifton Dixon also are seeking the 11th Ward seat. They had no unpaid tickets on record.

All others running for office or seeking re-election in Albany had less than $200 in parking tickets, or had no unpaid tickets at all.

afries@timesunion.c­om - 518-454-5353 - @mandy_fries

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