Schenectady Democrats endorse Williams and Samuel for council seats | The Daily Gazette SECTIONS SCHENECTADY — The city Democrats’ executive committee has endorsed Carl Williams and Haileab Samuel from among seven candidates for the two vacant seats on the Schenectady City Council. The committee, which met and interviewed candidates Saturday morning, also endorsed incumbent City Council members John Mootooveren, Marion Porterfield and Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas for new four-year terms in November. Both Williams and Samuel are Black, as is Porterfield. City Democratic Chairman Tom Bellick said he was pleased the Democrats will be putting forward such a diverse group of candidates this year.