Albany

Mayor Kathy Sheehan

Mayor Kathy Sheehan is in her third term as Albany, New York’s 75th mayor. Mayor Sheehan has dedicated her administration to creating a City of opportunity, leading with a commitment to equity and responsive government that includes diverse community voices.

Under Mayor Sheehan’s leadership, the City:

Adopted its first new zoning code in more than half a century
Created an Innovation Office
Implemented numerous cost-saving initiatives that improved the City’s bond rating and held the line on taxes
Invested in new IT systems
Secured millions of dollars in funding for workforce development
Secured unprecedented new State aid, became the third City in the U.S. to implement Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, which provides alternatives to arrest for certain non-violent offenders
Programs
Mayor Sheehan:

Implemented traffic calming initiatives to make Albany’s streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists alike
Launched a new $1 million vacant building rehabilitation program and $1.5 million poverty reduction initiative
Led the steady transformation of the City’s downtown into a new urban neighborhood
Renovated more than a dozen parks across Albany
Revamped the award-winning Summer Youth Employment Program
Prior Experience
Before serving in elected office, Kathy was the vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of a publicly-traded medical device manufacturer.

Kathy served a four-year term as Albany’s Treasurer prior to being elected mayor, implementing changes to improve the City’s fiscal policies and overhauling the City’s parking ticket system.

Education
Having grown up in a large family that valued hard work and community service, Kathy put herself through college, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism at Bowling Green State University.

After a five-year career in communications, Kathy attended Albany Law School on an academic scholarship, graduating magna cum laude in 1994.

Personal Life
Kathy and her husband Bob have a son and are committed community members, having served as board members for a number of community-based organizations