Photo: Marc Dufresne / iStock / Getty Images
Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Mayor-Elect Dorcey Applyrs met at Albany City Hall on Thursday (November 13) to discuss the transition between their administrations. Applyrs, who recently defeated Republican Rocco Pezzulo, will become Albany's first Black woman mayor. She will take office on January 1, succeeding Sheehan, who has served three terms.
During the meeting, Sheehan and Applyrs talked about ongoing city initiatives and appointments to boards, such as the Community Police Review Board. Sheehan, who plans to remain in Albany, is still considering her next career steps. She mentioned, "I’m talking to people who I think have interesting jobs and asking them what they do."
Applyrs has already established a transition team to develop a plan for her first 100 days in office. The team is split into two committees: one focused on attracting top talent to the administration and another on conducting a citywide survey to align the administration's priorities with those of residents and business owners. The survey will be launched on January 1, 2026, with results expected in April.
One of Applyrs' significant tasks will be selecting a new police chief, as the current interim chief, Brendan Cox, stepped in after Eric Hawkins left for Michigan. Applyrs emphasized the importance of public input in this decision, stating, "I look forward to engaging the community in the decision as it relates to our next police chief."