We have watched with interest the charter debate in Saratoga Springs, NY. Having lived in New Hampshire for 40 years before moving to Saratoga Springs, we lived and worked in communities that had a city or town manager form of government. We took it for granted that competent professionals with expertise in their areas were using their skills to manage the city/town departments that made those communities great places to live. We have been disheartened, however, after attending meet-the-candidates’ nights for a previous city election, to learn that the city relies upon a system where lack of expertise or professional qualifications are not a bar to city office. It seems to us that family connections or who you know are the way to get elected. We urge our fellow Saratogians, new and old, to vote to adopt charter reform – a system of government that will provide professional leadership in the form of a city manager and city-wide neighborhood ward representatives.
- Bill and Janice Christiano, Saratoga Springs
