Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, now a month into his first term as chief executive of the most populous county in the Capital Region, defended his choice for county attorney after a barrage of complaints from the progressive and LGBT communities.

In a statement first published by the Times Union this afternoon, McCoy said that Thomas Marcelle, a senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (an organization labeled to watch for by the Southern Poverty Law Center), was “overqualified for the job of county attorney.”

Marcelle will go before a vote of the full county legislature next week. According to a number of sources, at least 16 legislators out of the 39 will oppose Marcelle’s nomination.

“I have every belief that he will follow the law. During his meeting with the County’s Personnel Committee, he unequivocally stated that he would uphold New York’s new same-sex marriage law should it come before him as a matter of county business. With his commitment to this specific law publicly stated, I don’t believe that we should have a political litmus test for county employment,” said McCoy in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Empire State Pride Agenda called Marcelle’s appointment an “insult” and would bring “grave danger” to the LGBT community.

“My own personal commitment to equal rights is well documented publicly, as evidenced by my previous support for proposed civil rights and equal protection laws, and by the statement I made last June supporting the passage of marriage equality in New York State,” McCoy continued in the statement.

Before marriage equality was passed by New York in June, County Legislator Bryan Clenahan had proposed a pro-marriage equality declaration before the county legislature – a declaration in which McCoy never signed. McCoy at the time was county legislature chair.

Clenahan, along with fellow legislator Noelle Kinsch and others, made the opinion of Marcelle known as the RFK Democratic Club meeting last week.

The fight over Marcelle’s appointment reached a boiling point earlier this month when Libby Post published stoptommarcelle.com, a web site dedicated to opposing Marcelle’s appointment as county attorney. The county attorney is responsible for legal matters within county government and should not be confused with the duties and responsibilities of the district attorney, who is the county’s chief prosecutor.

“It is unfortunate those who oppose this appointment on personal and political grounds are doing so by seeking to frustrate the equal protection rights of an individual. Albany County is committed to providing and assuring equal opportunity is extended to all persons in employment matters without regard to their race, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sex or disability,” McCoy concluded.

It remains seen whether McCoy will consider other potential nominees in the event that Marcelle’s vote fails.

Update (2/2/2012, 2:49 p.m.): Bill Ritchie, President of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), representing 30,000 union members and their families in Albany County, has announced the Federation’s opposition to the proposed appointment of Thomas Marcelle to the position of Albany County Attorney and is urging Albany County legislators to reject this candidacy. This position was adopted tonight by a vote of the delegates at the Federation’s monthly meeting.

“Tom Marcelle is by no means well-qualified for the County Attorney job,” said Ritchie.

“While his competence as a lawyer is not being debated, his lack of experience in matters pertaining to labor law and practice – collective bargaining, public employee contracts, arbitration and initiatives such as project labor agreements–is glaring.”

In fiery remarks at a packed backroom at McGeary’s in Downtown Albany on Monday, Albany City Treasurer Katherine M. Sheehan delivered a terse and direct response to last week’s State of the City address given by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings.

The event, billed as a forum on progressive business ownership, was organized by the Robert F. Kennedy Democratic Club (co-chaired by Maureen O’Brien and Matthew Peter). Since it’s resurrection, the club (which is soon to become a PAC according to Peter) has held forums and rallies that have included speakers such as Sen. Neil Breslin, U.S. Rep. Tonko, and others.

Sheehan, who was elected city treasurer against longtime incumbent Betty Barnette in 2009, said that the city “cannot hope to eliminate our budget deficit, revitalize our neighborhoods or reduce property taxes if we continue to engage in magical thinking that all is well in our city.”

Prior to elected office, Sheehan served as general counsel and corporate secretary for Intermagnetics General Corporation before the company was acquired by Philips Electronics. Undoubtedly tying in her previous technology sector experience, Sheehan also called for the creation of a city chief information officer to manage information technology needs in city government.

“As the heart of Tech Valley, we should be at the forefront of smart government. It is time to hire a CIO who can centralize our IT services and rapidly put us on a path to smart technology investment,” said Sheehan.

On education in response to Jennings appointing University at Albany President George M. Philip and College of St. Rose President R. Mark Sullivan to co-chair a committee to structure a new curriculum for Albany High School, Sheehan says that the curriculum design must be “headed by our independent City School District.” In attendance and adjacent to Sheehan was Daniel Egan, the president of the Albany City Schools board.

Both Philip and Sullivan have announced their retirements in the last few months, so it would be unclear whether their successors would continue to be involved.

The remarks followed speeches given by local business owners Anton Pasquill and Sarah Gordon. Pasquill, who owns the Hudson River Coffee House on Quail Street, said that the most often-asked question he gets is why he opened a business in the middle of what some call “the student-ghetto.”

“Most of the time, I give a flippant response. I cite insanity or wanting to avoid looking for a job. The truth is, like any entrepreneur, I saw opportunity,” said Pasquill.

Gordon, who’s the daughter of recently retired Albany County Legislator Alexander “Sandy” Gordon, operates the Helderberg Marketplace that prides itself on organic, farm-fresh produce items that can be delivered to area residents.

With the event’s background focused on building up neighborhoods and the Albany community through smart development, Sheehan concluded that Albany’s best days are yet to come.

“Our brightest days can be ahead of us, but only if we are willing to work together, face our challenges head on and create a City government that works for everyone.”

It’s a crazy awards season, folks. This year, the list of films and actors that would be nominated for Oscars wasn’t as glaringly obvious as it’s been in years past. There are so many “very good” films, and not the usual stack of five or six great ones to choose from.  We believe the nominees are more exciting this year than ever, as many more films were in contention for the coveted nominee spots. In fact, several films that critics were sure would be included were almost completely left out (Young Adult, Drive), and there were films that no one thought would be included that were (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close…this year’s The Blind Side. Our theory is that old white men in the Academy have a weird thing for Sandra Bullock). The Oscars, thanks to the recent, confusing addition of many smaller films and indie releases getting big, critical praise, as well as the decreasing relevance of the Golden-Globes-as-Oscar-predictor, are pretty up in the air, and as movie fans with a vested interest in watching Hollywood react to its own, incestuous, self-congratulatory traditions,  who could ask for anything more?

So with that, Knickerbocker Ledger’s two self-proclaimed resident People Who Like To Tell You Their Opinions About Movies, Cait Rooney and Robin Zlotnick, give you our Oscar Predictions…

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“Hello Hello Baby Blue!  We are happy to announce the arrival of our beautiful daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, born on Saturday, January 7, 2012.” -Joint statement from Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Beyoncé’s website, 1/9/12

Immediately, the internet was aflutter with various theories for the meaning behind the name…

“Welcome Baby Blue!  They obviously chose to name her Blue because it has to do with power, sophistication, and loyalty.  The color blue is very rich and often comes in different shades, just like Beyoncé and Jay-Z themselves.” – Ms. Florence Gander, Art Department Head, Ben Franklin Regional High School, Maryland

“Blue Ivy is like, such a symbol for something familiar, yet super out of the ordinary. Extraordinary, even. Because like, Blue is a color, and like, Ivy is a plant. Ya know? Ohmigod, they can do no wrong!” – Jill Bean, President of the Blue Ivy Carter Fan Club

“It’s clearly a marketing ploy.  Beyoncé and Jay-Z are two savvy business people who know where the future lies. Blue Ivy Carter. BIC.” – Josef Camden, Marketing Coordinator, BIC Pens

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Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, in his annual State of the State address given on Wednesday, reflected on the achievements his administration made in the past year and gave insight on his plan for further economic development assistance to Upstate New York, continued “rightsizing” of government, and restoring New York as the “progressive capital of the United States.”

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo will about to reveal his plans for 2012, his sophomore year in office as the governor of the Empire State. After pushing forward a property tax cap, marriage equality, and renegotiating labor agreements, New York state government isn’t seen with the same comical scorn as was the case in the waning days of the Paterson administration.

I’m here at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center and will be providing commentary and coverage of the event live. Refresh your browser periodically for the latest.

Updates:

3:14 p.m. – Cuomo ends speech, exactly 60 minutes long.

3:13 p.m. – Cuomo, “Last year, we learned to run. Next year, we’re going to run!”

3:09 p.m. – Cuomo calls out “naysayers and cynics, saying that last year was fluke. I’m here to tell you that they don’t know us; they’re no way we’re going down, we’re going up.”

3:07 p.m. – Cuomo closes saying we are not Democrats or Republicans first, we are New Yorkers first.

3:04 p.m. – Cuomo calls for the end of fingerprinting for food stamps for children, “make sure no child in New York State goes hungry.”

3:03 p.m. – Cuomo lauds SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher for service to SUNY.

3:01 p.m. – Cuomo calls the State University of New York as the “precious jewel” of the state, says it’s the great equalizer for the middle class.

3:00 p.m. – Cuomo wants to create a Tenant Protection Unit as part of the rent regulation reform.

2:59 p.m. – Cuomo names former NYC emergency czar Jerry Hauer to build up statewide emergency network.

2:58 p.m. – Cuomo calls for the creation of a statewide emergency network in response to what the governor saw in Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee responses.

2:57 p.m. – Cuomo wants to form a bipartisan commission for education in the legislature. Wants the report to be done this year.

2:54 p.m. – Cuomo cites that state has highest spending in nation for education, but ranked #38 in graduation rates.

2:54 p.m. – Cuomo says this year the students will have a lobbyist in him.

2:53 p.m. – Cuomo: “Everyone in education has a lobbyist.”

2:50 p.m. – Cuomo says that the property tax cap worked and continued support for local government is needed.

2:50 p.m. – Cuomo wants to reform pension system and to create a Tier VI for employees who don’t even exist yet.

2:49 p.m. – Cuomo to continue to hold the line for no new taxes or new fees.

2:48 p.m. – Part 2 of the presentation begins: “Reimagining Government.”

2:47 p.m. – Cuomo estimates $25 billion in economic activity for collective Year Two plans.

2:45 p.m. – Cuomo plans to improve more than 100 bridges and to build new Tappan Zee bridge. Tappan Zee is currently seven years over it’s use-life.

2:43 p.m. – Cuomo proposes the NY Works Fund and Task Force to coordinate capital infrastructure projects across the state. Uses six agencies that have separate capital project bureaus.

2:41 p.m. – Cuomo estimates $1 billion in economic activity if state regulates casino gaming. Gets a mixed response from crowd.

2:40 p.m. – Cuomo says that the state is “living in denial” about casino gaming.

2:39 p.m. – Cuomo wants ESDC to “go global,” to work with Port Authority.

2:38 p.m. – Cuomo says regional councils were a success and thanks Duffy for running economic councils.

2:36 p.m. – Cuomo says that Buffalo will receive $1 billion in state support to create $5 billion of new economic activity. Says what happened in Albany (nanotech) can happen there.

2:35 p.m. – Cuomo addresses “crisis” in Western New York, “Buffalo, specifically.”

2:33 p.m. – Cuomo wants to build a new convention center at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens into the largest convention center in the nation. Wants to turn Javits into a private development site of 18 acres.

2:32 p.m. – Cuomo calls Javits Center as non-competitive; compares this to Chicago’s McCormick Place with 3.2 million sq. ft. compared to Javits’s 800,000 sq. ft.

2:29 p.m. – Cuomo introduces a three-part plan: next phases of economic development, reform, and job growth.

2:28 p.m. – Cuomo thanks emergency responders from storms, thanks the ones present in the audience, including New York National Guard troops.

2:27 p.m. – Cuomo calls 2011 a challenging year and uses Tropical Storm Lee and Hurricane Irene as examples.

2:26 p.m. – Cartoon of Silver and Skelos as children gets big laugh.

2:24 p.m. – Cuomo showcases “fair tax” brackets and new middle class tax cut.

2:22 p.m. – Cuomo lists accomplishments such as property tax cap, etc. Cuomo then states that New York has regained it’s place as the progressive capital of the country.

2:21 p.m. – Cuomo asks for legislature to stand up to be recognized.

2:20 p.m. – Cuomo cites the turnaround such as expediting the Capitol complex’s sped-up renovation and the historic legislative session in 2011.

2:19 p.m. – Prepared remarks begin (you can see a copy via Gannett Albany’s Jon Campbell) and slideshow begins.

2:18 p.m. – Cuomo thanks OGS staff and commissioner for renovation of the Empire State Plaza and the Capitol complex.

2:16 p.m. – Cuomo shouts out Attorney General Schneiderman, Comptroller DiNapoli, Majority Leader Skelos, and Speaker Silver.

2:15 p.m. – Cuomo thanks Duffy. Calls Duffy the personification of “pride, integrity, and performance.”

2:14 p.m. – Cuomo takes podium.

2:13 p.m. – Duffy talks about turn around of New York state government’s perception in one year.

2:12 p.m. – Duffy talks about Cuomo staffers wearing pins that say “I work for the people.”

2:11 p.m. – Duffy introduces New Yorkers in audience, including 300 school-age children.

2:10 p.m. – Skelos ends remarks, hoping to partner with the governor in the new year for further reform.

2:07 p.m. – Skelos talks about the $3 billion state deficit gap.

2:07 p.m. – Skelos cites the reason for this is having a partner in Governor Cuomo.

2:06 p.m. – Skelos says that Senate “threw the playbook of Albany dysfunction.” Cites closing $10 billion state deficit and cut taxes for middle income families.

2:05 p.m. – Skelos calls Cuomo an “innovator and friend.”

2:04 p.m. – Majority Leader Dean Skelos takes podium.

2:04 p.m. – Silver ends remarks, Duffy returns.

2:01 p.m. – Silver wants funding reform for community colleges, cites that the rate of state support has never been what it was supposed to be. Calls for an increase of funding for these “learning centers.”

2:00 p.m. – Silver wants to increase state minimum wage, cites NY is behind more than a dozen states.

1:59 p.m. – Silver looks forward to working with Cuomo and Skelos in the new year.

1:57 p.m. – Silver calls Cuomo the “most effective chief executive in our nation today.”

1:56 p.m. – Silver takes podium. Thanks Duffy for service as lieutenant governor.

1:55 p.m. – Duffy introduces both Ron Canestrari and Tom Libous, both have no microphones.

1:55 p.m. – Introduces legislative leaders.

1:54 p.m. – Duffy returns to stage to introduce mayors in audience, including Buffalo’s Byron Brown, Rochester’s Thomas Richards, Syracuse’s Stephanie Minor, and Albany’s Jerry Jennings. Yonkers’s Mike Spano gets a big plug, as does New York’s Mike Bloomberg.

1:50 p.m. – Duffy returns to stage, introducing the New York State National Guard to lead the pledge of allegiance.

1:46 p.m. – Archbishop giving secondary blessing.

1:45 p.m. – Rabbi gives interfaith blessing. Event running 12 minutes late.

1:44 p.m. – Cuomo enters.

1:43 p.m. – Duffy introduces Senate Majority Leader Skelos.

1:42 p.m. – Duffy introduces Schneiderman, DiNapoli, and Silver.

1:42 p.m. – Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy enters room.

1:38 p.m. – TU’s Jimmy Vielkind reports that Sandra Lee, the governor’s girlfriend, has just arrived – reportedly giving Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings two kisses on the cheek.

1:34 p.m. – Assembly procession continues, members filling in and being guided to their seats by Cuomo staffers.

1:29 p.m. – Members of the New York State Assembly have begun coming into the ESP Convention Center.

1:25 p.m. – Members of the New York State Senate begin coming in through the northside entrance onto the floor.

1:24 p.m. – Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman is starting the judicial procession of the Court of Appeals.

1:20 p.m. – Attendees are asked to take their seats, 10 minutes away from advertised start time.

Press Release From The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: 

Los Angeles, CA – January 2, 2012 – The Academy has not yet announced how many Best Picture Nominees there will be for this year’s Oscars because, simply, we haven’t made up our minds.

One thing is certain; there will not be ten again.  Ten was…well, it was just reckless. It became evident with the release of a shocking statistic regarding last year’s Oscar broadcast: a 450% rise in the number of pencils people jabbed into their eyes by the time the last best picture nominee was presented.  Details of the statistic show that the pencils were, in fact, jabbed into their eyes in response to the number of best picture nominees and not, as first thought, in reaction to James Franco and Anne Hathaway’s spirit-crushing awkwardness (for that, there was a 700% increase in voluntary check-ins into psychiatric hospitals in the week following the broadcast).

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Approximately 150 onlookers gathered inside the newly renovated Albany County Legislature‘s chamber inside the reopened Albany County Courthouse Sunday afternoon for the swearing in of new county legislators and the election of a new chairperson to succeed now-County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.

The legislature returns to the Albany County Courthouse after several years of using the Cahill Room at the Albany County Office Building on State Street. The Cahill Room more or less had been a reconfigured conference facility. The renovated chamber has now been outfitted with overhead boom microphones and four robotic-controlled cameras at each inner corner of the chamber.

In addition to McCoy, a number of area elected officials were present including Albany City Treasurer Katherine M. Sheehan, Albany Common Council President Pro Tempore Richard Conti, Albany City Auditor Leif Engstrom, and Albany County District Attorney P. David Soares.

The county legislature, which totals 39 legislative seats that represent all portions of Albany County broken up by population, is comprised of 29 Democrats and 10 Republicans.

The major piece of business that took place was the election of chair, in which Democrats nominated Cohoes legislator Shawn Morse and Republicans nominated Colonie legislator Patrice Lockart. Morse overwhelming defeated Lockart in a roll call vote for the position, which pays $36,257 annually.

Morse, 44, previously had been a deputy majority leader under McCoy in addition to being the chair of the audit and finance committee. In his acceptance speech, Morse stated he looked forward to working with McCoy.

Notable changes to the legislature’s composition include Democrat Noelle Kinsch, who represents the sixth district. Kinsch defeated embattled legislator Brian Scavo in last September’s Democratic primary and went on to win the general election in November.

Republican Deborah Busch, a Tea Party favorite, took her seat as the representative from the 39th district. Busch defeated Democrat Alexander “Sandy” Gordon in the hill towns district.

Each legislator’s term runs from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016. Annual pay for a county legislator is $21,762.

Troy’s city council president Clement Campana, along with a member of the city council and two political operatives, were arrested Tuesday and charged with forging absentee ballots on the Working Families Party line in 2009, primarily of those cast at the Troy Housing Authority’s apartments.

Campana, the Democrat who had dropped a bid to run for mayor of the Collar City in the summer to allow fellow county legislator Lou Rosamilia to run (and eventually win the mayoralty), was charged with first-degree falsifying business records (felony), four counts of illegal voting (felony), and conspiracy to promote/prevent an election (misdemeanor). Campana was represented by prominent defense attorney E. Stewart Jones.

Campana plead not guilty to the charges. If convicted, Campana could face up to seven years in prison.

This is the latest in a string of arrests in connection to the 2009 Working Families Party primary, in which conspirators allegedly believed that those who resided in the Troy Housing Authority apartments were apt not to vote, therefore targeted as a prime demographic to use. So far, seven officials have been arrested, including council member Michael LoPorto and Democratic Elections Commissioner Edward McDonough, son of the late Edward F. McDonough, the long-time chairman of the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee. Both LoPorto and McDonough are scheduled to go to trial next month.

Retiring council member John Brown plead guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. Brown’s sentence will be six months in jail, followed by five years of probation. Political operatives Anthony Renna and Anthony DeFiglio were also charged.

Rensselaer County is no stranger to criminal charges to its political brass. In 2009, former Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno was indicted on eight counts of corruption that charged that the Brunswick politician had used his position of clout for personal benefit. Bruno was later acquitted of several of the charges, but was convicted only on two counts of mail and wire fraud. In the mid 1990s, McDonough’s father was charged with using his position as chairman to his personal benefit, leading to a 14-count indictment with mail fraud, extortion, racketeering and conspiracy.

The indictment has not affected the mayoral transition from Republican Harry Tutunjian to Rosamilia, who is set to take office January 1.

After an election season in which the Albany County GOP did not field a candidate to face now County Executive-elect Daniel P. McCoy, Colonie Republican businessman and 2010 Congressional candidate Ted Danz is calling for the resignation of county chairman Don Clarey in addition to replacing Clarey with himself.

Danz, who ran against Rep. Paul Tonko in 2010, is the president of the Family Danz home heating and air conditioning company. In a letter sent to county Republicans this week, Danz expressed his distaste for Clarey’s leadership.

“Don Clarey actively blocked every candidate who expressed an interest in running for county office. Despite what he might tell you, there actually were people interested,” said Danz.

Clarey, who succeeded John Graziano as chair, had recently called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor to handle arrests at Occupy Albany in Albany’s Academy Park.

“(Clarey) held a press conference and did a series of media appearances calling on David Soares to arrest members of ‘Occupy Albany.’ While I agree with the sentiment the result was embarassing. While appearing on the Fred Dicker Show, the chairman was asked who elected him. His response was the county executive committee. When asked to name the individuals on the executive committee he couldn’t even name one,” said Danz.

In the 2011 season, the county GOP ran only 15 candidates for 39 legislative seats, no endorsed candidate for county executive, comptroller, or sheriff, nor any candidates for coroner or judge. The only candidate who was able to take a Democratic seat was Deborah Busch, who defeated Sandy Gordon in the 39th district by a margin of five points.

Danz claims to have the support of various town GOP chairs and other well-known Republicans within the county, including Nathan Lebron.

Lebron, who ran for Albany County Executive this year without the support of the GOP, had choice words for Clarey.

“I am excited and thrilled that Ted Danz has offered to take over the party. After the failed campaign of this past election cycle, it is clear that Don Cleary does not posses the vision nor qualities of a party chairman.  Not only has he weakened the GOP by failing to offer countywide candidates but deprived every citizen of the county of a democratic choice,” said Lebron.

“Ted Danz has proven to be a leader in business and politics. He knows how to get things done. In my attempt to get on the ballot, Mr. Danz carried my petition at the risk of being shunned by the party leadership. He leads by example with morals and conviction. We need that more than ever,” Lebron continued.

Republicans previously used to have longtime strongholds in the towns of Guilderland and Colonie, in which their town board had been Republican-controlled for nearly 107 years before Paula Mahan & Co. were elected. Guilderland – outside of a highway superintendent position – is comprised of a fully Democratic board, which is a reversal of what was seen ten years ago.

“I look forward to Mr. Danz becoming our new leader and he has my full support.  A return to competition and debate will greatly benefit our county and democracy,” Lebron said.