Democrat Gabriella Romero faces Republican Alicia Purdy for a seat in the state’s 109th Assembly District made open by Pat Fahy’s decision to run for the State Senate.

Romero first won elected office in November 2021, when she was chosen by residents of Albany’s Sixth Ward to represent them on the city’s Common Council. 

This is Purdy’s second attempt to represent the 109th; she lost two years ago to Fahy by over 18,000 votes, approximately 27,750 to 9,550.

The district covers part of Albany,  all of New Scotland, and Guilderland save for the approximately 15 square miles of town bounded by the townlines of Duanesburg, Princetown, and Rotterdam to the north, Colonie to the east, Route 20 to the west, and the intersection of Route 20, Foundry Road and Willow Street to the south.

Democrats outnumber Republicans in the 109th by a margin of over 5 to 1, about 47,800 to 8,800, with another 22,000 in the district either choosing against a party affiliation or registering with one of the few remaining minor parties that still has automatic ballot access. 

The enrollment of Democrats compared to Republicans in the district is one likely reason Romero vastly outraised Purdy this election. 

Purdy, according to state Board of Elections filings, has raised only about $5,000 in the two years since she last ran. In stark contrast, Romero took in about $90,000 during the same period — but Romero also has received public-matching funds from the state, which totals over $220,000.

The candidates were asked about their relevant background for the job, why they were running for the Assembly, and about these issues:

— Environment

New York state still hopes to meet its green energy target of getting 70 percent of its electricity needs from clean sources by 2030, though the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has cast some doubt on its ability to do so in a report earlier this year, saying that 2033 may be the earliest the goal can be reached. 

Do you support reaching this goal as written, and, if so, how can the state make progress while balancing the wants and needs of residents in rural Guilderland, for example, whose land is currently the most likely to be impacted by clean-energy projects?

— Funding education

During last year’s state budget process, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed eliminating the hold-harmless provision when distributing state aid to schools. The provision allows districts with declining enrollment to keep the same funding as in the previous year. There was pushback, and the matter is now being considered by the Rockefeller Institute of Government ahead of next year’s budget. 

How should state aid to schools be allocated?

Alicia Purdy

For the past 20 years, Alicia Purdy said she’s worked as an independent multimedia journalist, writing, editing, producing videos, and getting in on the management side of the business. 

She earned her master’s in journalism from Regent University, previously known as Christian Broadcasting Network University, named after the evangelical media company founded by the popular, powerful, and controversial televangelist-turned-politician Pat Robertson. 

Purdy said her work as a journalist has allowed her to develop an “expertise in covering politics, religion, and finance.” She has also referred to herself as a biblical journalist, a particular type of journalist whose work “must constantly be reporting with the ‘purpose’ of directing the recipient toward God, God’s creation and God’s principles,” according to an essay written 40 years ago by a Regent University graduate student. 

Purdy’s passion for politics stems “from being a constitutional American,” which she said is “someone who has studied and firmly believes in the Constitution as the foundation of the United States,” which, when combined with her journalistic experience, “naturally led me toward political engagement.”

And it’s that background, Purdy said, that “has given me a unique perspective on how government works and where it needs improvement,” stating she understands the “importance of transparency, accountability, and effective communication with constituents.”

But she also knows just how different reporting and running for office can be, on-the-job experience gained in her first campaign for elected office, the 2021 race for mayor of Albany. Although she was unsuccessful in her first run garnering just 17 percent of the vote, Purdy said, “That mayoral campaign ignited a stronger passion for public service.”

She said it “revealed that our state still needs substantial improvements.”

And, as a lifelong New Yorker, Purdy said she shares “widespread belief” that the state needs a new direction, but has learned many feel powerless to effect change.

“Not everyone has the background, skills, or inclination to enter politics,” she said. “Many citizens feel helpless facing our current challenges. This realization led me to a profound conclusion: Because I have the capability to serve, I have a responsibility to do so. I had to transform from someone who ‘can’ into someone who ‘must’”

On the state’s green-energy goals, Purdy said her “stance on this crucial issue prioritizes people’s needs.”

Throughout her campaign, she said she’s consistently emphasized that the state has neglected residents’ priorities.

“Our people’s needs must come first,” Purdy said, “unequivocally.”

She said the impact of the climate legislation is already being felt. 

“In the past year, we’ve seen a 39 percent increase in energy bills, forcing families to choose between heating their homes and buying groceries,” and while she supports responsible resource management — meaning the inclusion of gas and oil alongside renewables — there must be a priority placed on people's immediate needs and long-term well-being.

Rural areas, particularly upstate, face demoralization as residents watch urban sprawl and energy projects encroach on their communities, Purdy said, which are concerns that extend beyond aesthetics and into preserving ways of life, protecting agricultural land, and maintaining community character.

Purdy said a major flaw in the current climate legislation is its power structure. The legislation empowers unelected, appointed bureaucrats over elected legislators, she said, sidelining those who should be representing the people’s interests and creating a dangerous precedent where decisions affecting millions of New Yorkers are being made by individuals unaccountable to the votes. 

In her view, Purdy said a comprehensive overhaul of the climate law would begin by restructuring the legislation’s balance of power. She said decision-making authority must rest with the legislature, the elected officials directly responsible for looking after constituents’ interests. 

The current climate legislation’s aggressive timeline and scope is causing concern even among Democratic leaders, Purdy said. “The financial implications are staggering.”

She also said the current approach also overlooks economic ripple effects, like small businesses struggling with increased energy costs or farmers worrying about losing productive land or local municipalities fearing a shrinking tax base as more land is dedicated to state-mandated energy projects.

“These complex, interconnected issues require careful consideration and local input,” Purdy said, and while she’s “not advocating for dismantling environmental protection efforts,” she would like to reprioritize “our approach to ensure people's needs come first.”

The current legislation fails to reflect this priority, Purdy said, “necessitating a new direction.”

Purdy said state-aid allocation requires careful prioritization, especially for schools with urgent needs, like city schools facing teacher shortages. 

But beyond addressing an issue as fundamental as staffing, Purdy said, “we must confront a more critical problem: the alarming lack of accountability in New York state's school system.”

She claimed school districts like Guilderland and Albany are seeing declines in math and reading, despite a 140-percent increase in school spending over the past two decades. “These aren’t advanced subjects; these are the fundamental building blocks of education that our students are struggling with,” Purdy said.

The disconnect between funding and performance is particularly concerning for Purdy.

“While we continue to increase educational spending annually, we’re seeing diminishing returns on this investment. Our students’ performance in basic subjects continues to decline, suggesting that simply allocating more money isn't the solution,” she said; there needs to be an examination of how the funds are being used, “and whether they're truly serving our students’ needs.”

“Our teachers — many of whom are dedicated, talented professionals — find themselves trapped in a system that prioritizes statistical manipulation over genuine educational improvement,” she said. “We must recognize that money alone isn’t the solution. If it were, our educational challenges would have been resolved long ago, given our substantial spending increases.”

What is needed, Purdy said, is a “multi-faceted approach centered on accountability and transparency.” Purdy said she firmly believes that financial data reveals the truth; money doesn’t lie. 

“We need rigorous tracking of budgets, spending, and outcomes. When I advocate for an overhaul, I’m not suggesting we dismantle the system entirely,” she said. “Instead, I propose an independent examination of spending versus outcomes, moving away from the state government’s one-size-fits-all approach.”

She said there should also be an implementation of regular performance audits that go beyond examining test scores. “These audits should evaluate program effectiveness, resource utilization, and student engagement metrics,” she said. “We should ask questions like: Are our programs actually helping students learn? Are we providing the right resources to teachers? Are we engaging parents and communities effectively?”

Gabriella Romero 

Gabriella Romero said when the assembly vacancy opened earlier this year, she was initially hesitant to run.

“Several mentors, community groups, and even current assembly members and senators encouraged me, saying the state legislature needed my perspective and experience,” she said. “Despite their support, I was apprehensive. It wasn’t until I began engaging with residents during the petitioning period that I gained confidence in my decision.”

Romero said her “political journey” began with her work as a public defender, her job for the past four years. And, while she cherishes her current role, Romero said it was her specialization in mitigation work that had profoundly shaped her perspective on public service and galvanized her political involvement.

“As a public defender, I assist clients who have committed crimes but struggle with underlying issues like substance abuse, homelessness, or mental health challenges,” Romero said. “I help these individuals access necessary services and advocate for alternatives to incarceration. While we often succeed in securing help for our clients, the instances where we don’t have driven me to seek broader systemic change.”

She then pointed to her time as an elected official.

“One of my proudest achievements” as a city councilor, she said, “was creating an open and transparent code-violation database.”

Referencing the state’s Freedom of Information Law, known as FOIL, Romero went on, “Previously, accessing property information required formal FOIL requests,” a time-consuming affair for both residents and code department employees.

“So, we collaborated with the department to develop and codify a more accessible system that will benefit the community for years,” demonstrating in the process how seemingly small changes can significantly impact government transparency, Romero said, “a priority of mine.”

One thing she’s focused on is improving event transparency in Albany, Romero said. “Contrary to the misconception that there’s nothing to do in our city, there’s an abundance of activities — people just aren't aware of them.”

So, after initially attempting to address this through legislation, Romero said she found working directly with the city clerk’s office more effective, establishing  a public link for special events while working towards a comprehensive public calendar. 

“One of our most innovative projects is the proactive street team program. It began as a pilot on Lark Street to address homelessness and drug use through a service-oriented approach rather than enforcement,” Romero said; what started as a creative solution to help people access support instead of facing arrests has evolved significantly. 

Through partnerships with the Department of Health, Joseph’s House, and other organizations, Romero said, “we’ve expanded the program to cover Henry Johnson Boulevard, the South End, and Central Avenue.”

Romero said meeting the state’s climate goals is challenging, but “we must be aggressive and invest significantly.”

Thinking locally about an issue with global impact, Romero said there is substantial progress to be made here in the Capital Region. “A current bill proposes converting the Capitol Building and Empire State Plaza to renewable energy sources, which would contribute significantly to our climate goals while addressing environmental justice issues.”

Romero said many people are unaware that the state’s Sheridan Hollow plant, which powers the Capitol and Empire State Plaza, significantly impacts the surrounding neighborhood. “This is fundamentally an environmental justice issue, as the community bears a disproportionate burden of our government’s energy needs.” 

She pointed to a recent study that proposed converting the plant to 50 percent renewables, but said that wasn’t ambitious enough. Given the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s goals, “we should push for 100 percent renewable energy conversion,” Romero said. “This would help meet our climate objectives and provide environmental reparations to a historically impacted community.”

Romero said she strongly supports Assemblywoman Fahy's New York Heat Act, which would push gas utilities into complying with the state’s new climate regulations and, while she’s disappointed the bill didn't advance earlier, Romero believes that with Fahy in the Senate and herself in the Assembly, “we can make real progress on environmental legislation. Our partnership could be instrumental in pushing forward comprehensive climate action that benefits both urban and rural communities.”

Another “crucial initiative” that Romero has been focusing on is the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill, which would require manufacturers to take responsibility for their products’ entire lifecycle, starting with take-back programs, then recycling, and final disposal. 

She said, “The fundamental principle is that manufacturers, as the primary waste creators, should bear the greatest responsibility for reducing it. This would incentivize them to either eliminate excess packaging or develop more environmentally friendly, biodegradable alternatives.

When it comes to renewable energy, Romero said she has her eye on the many ways we can produce clean electricity, but said her primary focus is offshore wind, due in large part to the role the local area would play in the industry, “especially the Port of Albany project. This initiative would create approximately 1,400 local jobs and generate hundreds of millions in economic output. It’s a perfect example of how we can create green jobs while advancing our renewable energy goals,” she said. 

The Port of Albany project is particularly exciting because it demonstrates how environmental initiatives can drive economic development. Romero said, “These aren’t just temporary construction jobs — they’re long-term, sustainable positions that will help build our green energy infrastructure.”

She said the project also positions Albany as a hub for offshore wind component manufacturing, which could potentially attract additional clean-energy investments in the region.

Romero said that ensuring adequate school funding is one of her top priorities, particularly in a district as diverse as the 109th, which is home to one of the state’s highest-achieving districts, Voorheesville, and one of its poorest-performing, Albany, which recently ranked 575th out of 661 school districts in English Language Arts test sores and 498th for math.  

Romero pointed to a recent trip she took to Giffen Memorial Elementary School in Albany, which has been in receivership for over five years. 

The designation is given to schools identified by the State Education Department as academically under-performing, which then appoints a receiver to help improve performance. 

In the case of Giffen Elementary, the Albany City School District superintendent, has been given increased authority to make direct changes to school curriculum, staffing, and budgeting, among other things.

“These schools often face multiple challenges simultaneously, from staffing shortages and outdated facilities to students dealing with poverty and trauma,” Romero said, “Without proper support, these challenges can create a devastating cycle that’s difficult to break.”

But, speaking specifically to funding, Romero said as a potential incoming assembly member, she’ll closely monitor the Foundation Aids needs study being conducted by the Rockefeller Institute. 

“While I believe the Foundation Aid formula has sound fundamental principles, it needs restructuring to better reflect current demographic shifts and educational needs. However, I want to be informed by the ongoing study’s results before advocating for specific changes,” she said.

Romero said her core belief is that every child, regardless of their ZIP code, deserves high-quality education, with small class sizes, up-to-date resources, and dedicated teachers.

But she also thinks many are missing a crucial part of the education conversation: The lack of investment in after-school programs, special education services, and mental-health support for our youth. 

“This is particularly critical in urban districts where many students face challenges outside the classroom that directly impact their ability to learn,” she said. “These holistic investments are vital because they prepare students not just academically but also emotionally and socially. This comprehensive approach has far-reaching implications for public safety, job preparedness, and even addressing out-migration.”