DRUG CZAR EYED FOR POSSIBLE RUN AGAINST JURCZYNSKI

Schenectady -- Democrats know it's a long shot, but hope Thomas
Constantine returns to the city Democratic party officials are trying
to convince Thomas Constantine, head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration, to run for mayor in November.

"He hasn't said no as yet,'' Christopher Gardner, Schenectady County
Democratic chairman, said Monday. "It's a long shot, but sometimes
long shots come in.''

Constantine, who is also a former state police superintendent, still
owns property locally and is nearing retirement from federal service,
officials said.

Gardner said Councilman Gary McCarthy, considered the party's chief
candidate for mayor to this point, had reached out to Constantine with
the offer about a week ago. A spokeswoman for Constantine said he was
out of town and could not be reached for comment.

Republican Mayor Albert Jurczynski said he expects to make a
re-election bid for a second term, but noted it would be premature to
comment on the possibility of running against Constantine.

Constantine moved to Schenectady in 1971. He lived in the city until
1994 when he moved to Washington to take the position of drug czar. He
still owns a Schenectady home which is being used by family members.

Constantine had a lengthy career with the New York State Police,
moving through the ranks from a uniformed trooper to superintendent of
the department. He left the post to take the federal drug position.

Several years ago, Republican Mayor Albert Jurczynski and Joseph
Notar, then Democratic city council president, asked Constantine to
consider serving the city as public safety commissioner when he
retired from the federal job.

At the time, Constantine said he wanted to continue his federal
service for a few more years, but he did not specify a retirement
date. He said he planned to spend his retirement years in Schenectady,
noting that serving as public safety commissioner would be worth
considering.

Jurczynski said he will attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors conclave
in Washington next week. "For some time, I've been planning to meet
with Constantine during my stay there and reiterate that the public
safety commissioner position would be created for him,'' Jurczynski
said. "He would bring a tremendous amount of prestige to the city.''

Jurczynski said when he appointed Gregory Kaczmarek as police chief
three years ago there was a possibility that Constantine may be named
public safety commissioner.

"Greg said he would consider it an honor to serve under Constantine,''
Jurczynski said.