Hank Kuczynski and the Democratic Committee: Too Close For Comfort?

Our city desperately needs to elect independent, thoughtful, and courteous individuals to serve on our City Council. In addition to his impressive credentials and extensive local government experience, this is one of the major reasons I am supporting Chuck Marshall, not Hank Kuczynski, in the special election to fill the Saratoga Springs Public Works Commissioner vacancy.

If you follow this blog regularly, you know that I am deeply concerned about the ongoing toxic behavior that regularly impedes the Saratoga Springs City Council’s ability to deliberate thoughtfully. You will also know that I am a registered Democrat. Despite this, I consider the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee to be primarily responsible for the persistent uncivil and divisive behavior that unfortunately continues to erupt at the Council table despite Mayor Safford’s efforts to enforce decorum. The committee has selected people like Dillon Moran and Minita Sanghvi to run for office, and they continue to support them despite the glaring problems with their performance both at the Council table and in the management of their respective departments.

While Chuck Marshall is a registered Republican, he has garnered bi-partisan support from Democrats such as former Mayor Meg Kelly and the independent group One Saratoga, whose motto is “city before party.” In addition, as Planning Board Chair, Chuck has demonstrated his ability to work with various individuals with different interests, listen to all sides, and build consensus. You can find out more about Chuck here: Chuck Marshall for Public Works

In contrast, Mr. Kuczynski has garnered public endorsements only from the same old regular Democrats we unfortunately know so well, including current Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran and current Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi. Of particular note is the enthusiastic endorsement of none other than former Mayor Ron Kim.

Kuczynski Is An Extension Of The City’s Democratic Committee

This is from a recent piece on WAMC Kuczynski:

“The Democratic Committee said, ‘we’d like to give the people a choice, would you do a write-in campaign?’ and I [Kuczynski] said, ‘well I’ve never done one, but if you’re willing to do the work, I’m glad to be your candidate [JK:Emphasis added] because I love the job,” said Kuczynski.

In all the years I have observed elections in this city, this is the first time someone running for office has not set up their own campaign organization with a campaign manager and a treasurer. While candidates rely on their political party for support, they usually maintain some modicum of independence to decide how to conduct their campaign and address policy issues as they arise. Kuczynski has totally abrogated that independence.

The Committee’s complete control extends to the total financing of Kuczynski’s campaign with Committee funds.

If you go to the New York State Board of Elections and try to find any records for donations and expenditures for Hank Kuczynski’s campaign, you will find none.

The Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee has commingled Kuczynski’s campaign money with its general funds. Thus, it is impossible to know, for example, which donations were made specifically for Kuczynski’s campaign and which were general donations to the committee, and it is also impossible to know which individuals or groups are backing his candidacy.

Too Intimate A Relationship

Given the hyper-partisanship that has come to define our local Democratic Committee and Kuczynski’s unfounded previously documented attack on the judge who ruled that the special election should proceed, the situation is worrisome.

This community needs someone independent to fill the vacancy on the Council who will exercise courtesy but firmly challenge Moran or Sanghvi when appropriate. I regret that I do not believe that Hank Kuczynski is that person.

Early voting at the Rec Center begins tomorrow, Saturday, January 18. Election day is Tuesday, January 28.