Gary R. McCarthy | Mayor, City of Schenectady

Gary McCarthy assumed the role of Acting Mayor of the City of Schenectady in April 2011, bringing with him more than three decades of experience in government and a reputation as a hands-on, accessible, public servant who believes that government can be a force for positive change in the lives of its residents. He was elected to a full four-year term as Mayor in November 2011. Together, a team of city and county leaders created a unified economic development strategy under the umbrella of Metroplex, and the results have been impressive. As Mayor, he has been committed to bringing the same transformation seen downtown to the neighborhoods. Mayor McCarthy has brought a continuing and consistent focus on code enforcement and distressed properties. Schenectady is now the lead awardee of a $558,002 New York State Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grant to partner with Amsterdam, Troy and Gloversville in a pilot program to combat blight and better manage distressed properties.