ALBANY WARD II ELECTION: Matt Fuller — Vote for the person who’ll do the best job

ALBANY — As he acknowledges comments made by a group in the community that either has no connection to Ward II or was silent during the run-up to the Nov. 7 municipal election but has suddenly sprang up to campaign against Matt Fuller rather than for incumbent Bobby Coleman, first-time candidate Fuller is getting an up-close look at the part of politics that makes it so unsavory in the eyes of many.

Fuller, though, said he plans to maintain the respect he’s shown for his opposition throughout the municipal election and in the post-election runoff campaign that will culminate with a Dec. 5 vote.

“I’ve tried to be respectful of every candidate that’s been in this race; I haven’t slung any mud,” said Fuller, a businessman who got 38.25 percent of the vote in the Nov. 7 election to lead a five-candidate field and earn a spot in the runoff with incumbent Bobby Coleman. “I will say, though, that some of Mr. Coleman’s comments about other candidates have been rude and could have been more respectful. That’s his prerogative, but it’s not a route I’d take.”

With slightly more than a week to go before the runoff for the Ward II seat, Fuller said he’s asking voters in the district to look at the race from the perspective of a level playing field.

“I’ve heard some comments made that don’t really bother me, but they make me wish that people would not pay attention to race, color, gender and things like that in this election and just focus on electing the best candidate,” he said. “Let’s make this a level playing field, look at what each candidate brings to the table and vote for the person who can do the best job.”

Fuller said one of the most disturbing attacks he’s heard during the runoff campaign has been from individuals who’ve claimed he is only in the race to benefit his business and the businesses of his friends. He said his bottom line will not benefit if he’s elected.

“I’m not going to get any financial gain from this, win or lose,” he said. “I’ve said from the beginning — and I still say — that the only reason I’m doing this is that I want to contribute to doing what’s best for Albany, to help people who need held most.

“I’m going to go into office with new ideas, new plans, but I’m also going to go in respectful of the people who’ve been there. I know that when you’re part of a board, one vote will accomplish nothing. I’m looking forward to working with the other commissioners and the mayor, to listening to their ideas and sharing mine and working together to see what will benefit our city.”

Fuller said he’s working on ideas, many based on the success he’s had as a businessman, that will impact the key issues in the community, including developing jobs and working to find opportunities for underprivileged young people.

“I expected to do well in the election, so I’m not surprised to be in the runoff,” he said. “I expected to do well because I worked hard. Now I know I have to work harder. I’ve knocked on no telling how many doors — had a few slammed in my face — but mostly I’ve found people willing to listen to what I plan to do as their representative.

“I’ve looked closely at the numbers from the general election, and there are precincts where we didn’t do well and I’m reaching out to the people in those areas. But even in the areas where we did well, there were a lot of people who didn’t vote. We’re asking the people who supported us the first time to go back again and take a friend with them. And we’re telling the people who didn’t vote that we don’t hold it against them, but we’d appreciate their vote in the runoff.”

A week of early voting for the runoff will be conducted Monday-Friday in the elections office.