September 20-2013
After losing twice before in efforts to win public office in New York State, Darius Shahinfar finally found success the third time around with an overwhelming two-thirds majority.
Shahinfar easily defeated his sole opponent in the Democratic primary for treasurer of Albany, the capitol city of New York State. There are no Republican or third party candidates filed for the post in the November general election, so Shahinfar is as good as elected now.
“I look forward to using the time [between now and when he takes office in January] to coming up to speed on every aspect of the treasurer’s office,” Shahinfar said at his victory party.
Shahinfar, 46, got 6,167 votes in the September 10 primary to 3,444 for county legislator Gary Domalewicz, 59, in an election where few voters were likely able to pronounce either candidate’s name.
Shahinfar is a close political ally of Katherine Sheehan, the outgoing treasurer, who romped to victory in the primary for Albany mayor with 69 percent of the vote.
Shahinfar is married to county legislator Noelle Kinsch.
Shahinfar has run for office twice before, losing for US Congress in 2008 and for county auditor in 2009.
In the 2008 congressional primary, Shahinfar came in fourth in a five-person race. The fifth candidate had not made a serious run.
Shahinfar was born in the United States to an Iranian father and an American mother. In his congressional race, he actively sought the support of the Iranian-American community and won the backing of the Iranian-American Political Action Committee, headed by Hassan Nemazee, who was a major fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign before he was jailed for financial crimes.
Shahinfar graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1988 with a degree in American history. He went on to get a law degree and became an Albany County deputy attorney.
The city treasurer is Albany’s chief financial officer, receiving and disbursing all city funds, overseeing investments and bonds, and supervising the parking authority, among other duties.