Left, Mayor Shayne Gallo. (Photo: Dan Barton) Right, Steve Noble. (Photo: Phyllis McCabe)
Mayoral candidate Steve Noble says he’ll rely on a corps of dedicated, albeit politically untried, volunteers in his effort to oust incumbent Democrat Shayne Gallo.
“We’re really doing this as a grass roots campaign,” said Noble who announced last week that he would challenge Gallo for the Democratic nomination for mayor in September’s primary. “The volunteers working with us have had a lot of experiences, but none of them have ever run a political campaign.”
Noble, 32, said that he had decided early on not to hire a campaign manager or other paid professionals for his mayoral bid. Noble said his wife, Julie Noble, would serve as the campaign’s treasurer. But he declined to name other members of the campaign team, saying that the race was still in the early stages and other candidates may emerge. Noble did say that he had volunteer committees formed to handle events, field operations and messaging.
“I think in due time people will come on board publicly,” said Noble.
Another question looming over Noble’s campaign is whether his uncle, Common Council President/Alderman-at-Large James Noble will seek a fourth term. Noble has held the post since 2002 when his predecessor, James Sottile, took over the mayor’s office following T.R. Gallo’s death. James Noble was elected to the city’s second-highest office in 2003, 2007 and 2011. In each case, Noble ran in tandem with the Democratic nominee for mayor. But Noble has said he will not run this year if Gallo is the nominee, citing a poor working relationship with the mayor. He has also questioned whether voters would approve of a Noble-Noble ticket. At his nephew’s campaign kickoff event earlier this month, Noble said that he was still undecided.
“He’s considering what he wants to do and I’ll give him the time to do that,” said Steve Noble of his uncle’s deliberations. “I think he’s a great guy, I respect him and the community respects him.”
While Noble embarks on a campaign effort to visit 60 Kingston small businesses in 60 days, Gallo will formally announce his run for a second term in a vacant lot that was once the site of the city’s most notorious welfare motel.
Gallo said last week he would hold the campaign kickoff at the former site of the King’s Inn, the same place he announced his first run for office four years ago. The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. on March 23.