SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new mayor and a new public safety commissioner will be joined by three returning commissioners when the five-member City Council convenes in 2024.  

“I pledge to work with everyone to advance the interests of our beautiful city,” said John Safford, shortly after declaring victory in the city mayoral race on Election Night.   

Safford, the Republican challenger, secured approximately 45% of the vote to emerge victorious over incumbent Mayor Ron Kim (D, WF) – who secured 38%, and Chris Mathiesen (One Saratoga) – who received 17%, according to the unofficial results reported by the Saratoga County Board of Elections. Safford will be the city’s first Republican mayor since Scott Johnson’s third term concluded in December 2013. 

Most of the 8,443 voters counted cast their ballots Tuesday beneath a heavy November sky that saw shafts of light trying to punch holes in a gun-metal gray drape of clouds, wind-blown leaves swirling like mad straphangers at rush-hour, and an indecisive climate unsure whether to leap into winter, or quietly fall back. 

In the city of Saratoga Springs, there are just over 20,000 voters actively registered, with registered Democrats accounting for approximately 40% of voters, registered Republicans about 28%, and Blanks –those registered to vote but purposely unaffiliated with any party, counting for about 26.5%. The remaining 5.5% balance of voters are comprised of those registered with either the Conservative Party, Working Families Party, or a variety of independent lines. 

In actual numbers, Safford collected 580 more votes than Kim, as the results currently stand. Prior to the election, some Democrats expressed concern that Mathiesen – who previously sat at the council table as a three-term Democrat Public Safety Commissioner – may secure some votes that otherwise would have gone to Kim. Mathiesen garnered a total of 1,420 votes in his mayoral bid. 

Safford previously worked for nearly 20 years as a professional managing agent to multiple Homeowners Associations and Condo boards and ran on a platform to “bring back civility to City Hall,” and “address homelessness with solutions that actually work.” 

In the contested race for Commissioner of Public Safety, Tim Coll – a registered Democrat running on the Republican and One Saratoga line, secured 49.2% of the vote, besting independent line candidate Kristen Dart (28.9%) and incumbent Democrat Commissioner Jim Montagnino (21.8%) for the seat. 

Coll is a retired former Special Agent of the FBI with 30 years of law enforcement experience.

The new mayor and new public safety commissioner will start their two-year terms in January. The balance of the five-person council will be comprised of three returning sitting commissioners, all Democrats, and each of whom received more than 5,000 votes running unopposed this election year. They are: Jason Golub (Public Works), Dillon Moran (Accounts), and Minita Sanghvi (Finance).

BALLSTON SPA — Matt Veitch and Michele Madigan were chosen by a majority of city voters to represent Saratoga Springs at the county level for the next two years. 

Veitch, running on the Republican and independent One Saratoga ballot line, was re-elected with 36.4% of the vote to the city Supervisor seat he has held since 2008. 

Veitch will be joined by Madigan, who received 33.4% of the vote running on the Democratic and O.S line. She previously served as city Finance Commissioner for five two-year terms, from 2012-2021. 

Gordon Boyd (D, WF) finished just out of the running for the two available seats with 30.2% of the vote.  

In the last city race for the two Supervisor seats, held in November 2021, Democrat Tara Gaston (4,460) and Republican Matthew Veitch (4,334 votes) were elected. Democrat Shaun Wiggins received 3,828 votes, and Republican John Safford – this year’s city mayoral winner – received 3,775 votes.

The Board of Supervisors, comprised of 23 members, is the legislative and executive authority of county government. The Board meets monthly at the county complex in Ballston Spa and manages a $400 million annual budget. Each Supervisor has a weighted vote based on population. 

Each of Saratoga County’s 21 municipalities have at least one elected supervisor who represents them at the county level; Saratoga Springs and Clifton Park – the county’s highest populated municipalities, each have two supervisors.   

Prior to this year’s Nov. 7 election, 21 of the 23 Supervisors were affiliated with the Republican Party, while 2 Supervisors were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Democrats added two additional seats as a result of Election Day’s five contested races.   

In Malta, Cynthia Young (D) defeated incumbent Mark Hammond (R,C), and Jessie Fish, Jr. (D, M.U.) secured three-of-every-four votes in besting incumbent Theodore Kusnierz, Jr. (R,C) in Moreau.  

In addition to representing Moreau as its supervisor, Kusnierz is currently serving his third one-year term as Chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors.

The Board Chair serves as the Parliamentarian to the Board of Supervisors and its presiding officer with the power to issue proclamations on behalf of the county as well as assigning member appointments to the county’s 12 Standing Committees. It is anticipated the incoming 2024 Board will select a new Chair at its annual Organizational Meeting in early January. 

In the other contested supervisor races in Saratoga County, incumbent John Lant (R, C) defeated Toni Sturm (D) in Wilton, and Ian Murray (R,C) won the town of Saratoga seat over challenger James Sullivan (D). Murray served as town supervisor since July, completing the term of the late Tom Wood.  

MOREAU — Moreau Lake State Park, located at 605 Old Saratoga Road in Gansevoort will host the following November events: 

Sunday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Gratitude Rocks! Join in the Nature Center to decorate small rocks to help us remember what we’re grateful for, as well as discussing how to make gratitude a habit. This program is for people of all ages and is an ideal family activity. The cost is $1 per child, $5 per adult (cash or check), payable at the office upon arrival. Registration is required at least 24 hours in advance, call 518-793-0511. 

Monday, Nov. 13, 1 p.m. Cottage Park hike. Join an educator-led hike on the Cottage Park trail. This is an out-and-back, moderate rated hike of about 2 and a half miles. The cost is $5 each (cash or check), payable at the office upon arrival. Registration is required at least 24 hours in advance, call 518-793-0511. 

Tuesday, Nov. 21, and Tuesday, Nov. 28, 12-2 p.m. Forest Bathing. Coined shinrin-yoku in Japan in the 1980’s, forest bathing is the ecotherapeutic practice of spending time immersed in nature, absorbing it with all of your senses. The physiological and psychological benefits last for days afterward with the additional benefit of a new appreciation of our precious woodland and its inhabitants. This is a beginner-rated walk along the Nature Trail with long pauses to sit and enhance our awareness of our surroundings and it is approximately a 2-hour program. A small mat is beneficial to ensure a dry seat. This program is limited to those age 14 and up. Pay $5 per person (cash or check) at the office upon arrival. Registration is required at least 24 hours in advance, call 518-793-0511. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation recently kicked off the final stretch to raise the remaining $100,000 for its Revive 65 Campaign. 

Matthew Veitch and Tara Gaston, Saratoga County Supervisors representing the city of Saratoga Springs, announced the county awarded the Foundation a $30,000 grant towards the rehabilitation of 65 Phila St.

In addition, the Carruth Foundation offered a $35,000 matching gift to encourage others to support reaching the goal. 

The long-neglected 1851 Alexander A. Patterson House had been on the Foundation’s endangered list for over 20 years and threatened by demolition. In 2021, the Foundation purchased it with the intent to stabilize the Italianate building, execute environmental abatement, and complete an exterior restoration. 

“As someone who was born and raised in Saratoga Springs, I understand the importance of preserving historic buildings. The building at 65 Phila Street was on the Foundation’s endangered list for a long time. While I was board president, it was always a strategic goal of mine to rehabilitate a building. I am glad to be able to provide this grant for the rehabilitation at 65 Phila Street and help further their mission,” said Supervisor Matthew Veitch, in a statement.

Since acquiring the house, work was done behind the scenes to plan the project and raise necessary funds. The grant helps the Foundation begin the final phase of the project. Over the upcoming months, contractors and volunteers will finish the porch restoration; install historic windows; complete siding repairs and painting; reinstall the historic front door; and develop a landscape plan. To accomplish these goals, the Foundation needs help to raise the remaining $100,000 by Dec.15 to underwrite the cost of the labor and materials. 

Net proceeds from the sale of 65 Phila Street will go towards future community preservation projects. To learn more about this project and other initiatives from the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, please visit saratogapreservation.org.