Malta flyers stirring town’s political pot
Hammond says he somewhat regrets the GOP mailer
Malta Democrats say they are not happy about political flyers accusing them of wanting to defund the police.
For one, Democratic candidate for supervisor Mike Williams, 62, was a state trooper for 29 years. For the last 17 years, until his retirement, he was a sergeant supervising troopers in the Malta area. Williams is also endorsed by the Working Families Party.
Second, there is no town police force a supervisor would have monetary control over.
“We do not want to defund the police,” he said, adding, “The town of Malta does not have a police department.”
The town — like most of Saratoga County — is protected by the State Police and the Saratoga County Sheriff ’s Office.
Williams said he wants to enhance police protection by persuading the sheriff ’s office to open a barracks near Exit 11 on the Northway, in a former Stewart’s Shop.
In his experience, he said law enforcement patrols near their barracks, so the move would increase local patrols.
“They tend to stay close,” he said, noting that the barracks is often the only reliable place for an officer to find a bathroom, a microwave and break room for a meal.
His opponent, Mark Hammond, also wants to get a sheriff ’s barracks in the town, though he said the Stewart’s location wouldn’t work. He has several other potential locations in mind. He is a Republican who is also endorsed by the Conservative Party.
Both candidates are running to replace Supervisor Darren O’connor, a Republican, who is not running for reelection
Hammond said he somewhat regrets the flyers.
“I don’t totally disagree with the content,” he said. “I’m upset that the flyer went out. I didn’t like the flyer. I had made it clear I don’t want any negative campaigning. I don’t feel I have to jump on anyone’s back to get higher.”
The flyer was put out by the state Republican Party, but Hammond saw versions of it and knew what the thrust of the flyer would be. He said he regretted listening to the advice of experienced campaigners who insisted on the attack approach. They argued that the attack was fair because Williams, a Democrat, was endorsed by the Working Families Party, which has strongly supported the “defund the police” movement.
Hammond said it was a “stretch” and that he wished campaign materials focused on his experience and background instead.
Development issues
Hammond, 60, is a retired Saratoga Springs firefighter. For the past two years, he has chaired the town’s open space and trails committee. Under his leadership the committee evaluated every property in town to determine which were most important and environmentally sensitive to preserve through the purchase of development rights. The town is now working on negotiations with owners of three of the top-listed parcels.
He wants to slow down development in town.
“Malta has reached a crossroads. Whoever is spearheading the town leadership next is going to have a dramatic effect on what Malta ends up being,” he said. “I really feel we need to preserve the rural character we have in Malta as best we can. Once things are gone, they’re gone.”
In particular, he wants to rezone portions of the northern end of town, where some residential areas were changed to commercial zoning.
Williams said he would take a different approach.
“The past and current board have not followed the Malta master plan. They have gone overboard with some of the development and allowed overdevelopment, actually,” he said. “My proposal is smart development. We have to have good restaurants, good stores, we don’t need any more fast-food restaurants. We need to be proactive as a town government and go out and get what the people want.”
That would include calling up specific businesses and coaxing them to open a store in Malta, an approach Clifton Park successfully followed when town officials were rebuilding the mall.
Williams also wants to slow growth down. He wants nearby towns or the entire county to come up with a joint master plan.
“Slow down, let’s look at everything,” he said. “We’re losing a lot of trees, a lot of rural space.”
Traffic, ambulances
Both candidates want to extend the sidewalk system downtown and increase traffic safety.
Williams said many who work at low-wage businesses downtown do not own cars. He wants them to be able to safely get to work and back, particularly in the dark.
The two candidates are on opposite sides on the ambulance district proposal. Williams supports the ambulance district, which would cost property owners about $44 per $200,000 of assessed property.
“Every year the ambulance corps has to come before the Town Board to ask for funding. They cannot plan their budget or purchase equipment until they get a firm decision from the Malta Town Board,” he said.
He thinks the change could also lead to the ambulance company being able to pay more for paramedics, which could help them with staffing.
“The paramedics’ salaries are low compared to other Capital Region ambulance companies,” he said.
Hammond would prefer to keep paying the ambulance company with the town’s general fund, which is largely made up of sales tax revenue.
“We have the money,” he said, adding the company could ask for more funds for raises. “If he said ‘I’m losing people, I can’t stop the bleeding, I need to give folks more an hour,’ I would be 100 percent behind that. Because it’s public safety. All I’m saying is please just show me.”