Three candidates lay out priorities as Albany school board election approaches May 20

Deborah Liebman, director of voter services for the League of Women Voters of Albany County, moderated a candidate forum that featured the three people running for two seats on the Albany City School District board of education: incumbent Sreedhar Chitoor, and challengers Edith Leet and Austin Wolfgang.

Each candidate gave opening remarks and took questions about academic programs, student supports and district policy. Edith Leet said she is running “because I want to make Albany Schools Second to none,” and emphasized recruiting volunteers and expanding bilingual and magnet programming to strengthen early learning. Incumbent Sreedhar Chitoor highlighted district gains he credited to board work, including improved graduation rates and expanded career and technical education programs. Austin Wolfgang framed his candidacy as bringing a “fresh young perspective,” citing recent graduation from Albany High, experience in state government, and priorities including expanded CTE pathways and conflict-resolution education.

The forum also included practical voting information. The moderator said the board election is May 20 and that the two candidates receiving the most votes will begin four-year terms on July 1. Voters were told absentee and vote-by-mail procedures: in-person pickup of a vote-by-mail ballot requires a completed application submitted to the clerk by 4 p.m. the day before the vote, and all absentee and vote-by-mail ballots must be received in the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on election day. A district phone number for the board clerk was provided during the forum.