Spa City GOP introduces candidates
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> The city’s Republican committee held a kick-off event introducing six candidates for city and countywide positions Tuesday morning at the Pavilion Grand Hotel.
Mayoral candidate, Mark E. Baker, spent the last 34 years as president and executive director of the Saratoga Springs City Center.
Baker said that experience prepared him to run for mayor.
“As your next mayor, I am personally committed to strong and defined ethical leadership,” Baker said. “As mayor I will ask my fellow council members to initiate ethics training for the entire council, commissioners, mayor and deputies, to ensure there’s
no confusion as to what is and is not ethical behavior. As your next mayor, I will take steps, actions and policies are fair, responsive and legal. I will not walk away from tough decisions. As your next mayor, I will work cooperatively with the entire city council to proactively meet the challenges of our success as a year-round destination resort.”
Baker said he’ll put Saratogians first.
“I will advocate for all Saratogians in finding real solutions to future problems. I will put Saratogians first by listening and listening to all,” he said. “I will put Saratogians first in making City Hall open and accessible to all. I will put Saratogians first in holding town hall meetings throughout the city to inform and connect and share with those that make this community great, all of our citizens. I will put Saratogians first in building cooperation in coalitions within the city council to actual solve problems, something that I was able to do in serving at the city center with over nine mayors and their administrations to work towards the commonality and the better benefit of our community.”
City and county positions won’t be the only thing residents vote on come November. The city will vote on a charter referendum, too. The Charter Review Commission plans to release the final draft of a council-manager form of government.
“For over nine administrations, I worked with the current charter. I’ve seen the best of the best, and maybe some that haven’t been so successful. I think a lot of it depends on the person that’s actually in those elected positions,” said Baker. “I don’t care what the form of government is, what the form of leadership is... if you don’t have leadership and you don’t have people that want to work collectively for the better good of your community, it’s not going to work.”
If the charter referendum passes, the council-manager form of government wouldn’t go into effect until the end of 2018.
“Right now, this is the form of government we have. This is the form of government we are going to have for the next two years,” said Baker. “I know I can lead in that format and I think it’s successful.”
Current commissioner of public works, Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, seeks reelection. He said 10 years ago he made a promise to keep the public first and that hasn’t changed.
“Today I want to reaffirm that promise that keeping the public first in public works will continue under my leadership,” said Scirocco.
Scirocco explained how under his leadership the city has replaced 100-yearold pipes, fixed long-standing drainage problems, extended water lines and developed new water sources that will ensure safe water for years to come.
“We’ve accomplished this why taking the water and sewer budgets out of the red and keeping them sustainable in the black,” said Scirocco. “And above all else, taxpayers have the lowest water and sewer rates in the area.”
Don Braim, running for commissioner of public safety, said he believes his public and private experience makes him the best suited candidate.
Braim retired after nearly 23 years as a criminal investigator in 1996 in Saratoga Springs. He then worked his way up to senior vice president of racing operations for Saratoga harness racing.
“As you are all aware, the public safety commissioner’s job is to make Saratoga a welcoming place that’s safe, responsive in emergency situations and free of as much crime as possible,” said Braim. “I’m committed to put my experience to work and to ensure the department provides these qualities to everyone.”
Andrew Blumenberg, who seeks election for city court judge, has spent 10 years in the Saratoga County defenders office.
“Although I am new to politics, I am not a stranger to city court,” said Blumenberg. “During that period in the public defenders office, I have handled over 5,000 criminal cases out of city court.
Blumenberg said his experience in city court is well suited to the position of city court judge.
“I’m very well familiar with all the inner workings of city court, the court personnel, the police, the litigants. I’ve had good and professional relationships with all of them,” said Blumenberg. “I believe city court is a very important court in our community and I believe the citizens of Saratoga Springs deserve somebody whose got the requisite experience, integrity and credentials to do that job successfully.”
The Republican committee has two candidates for the two county supervisor positions: Matthew Veitch, who seeks re-election, and John Stafford.
Veitch started the first trails committee at the county in 2009. He also serves as chairman of the city’s open space committee.
“Quality of life issues have kind of been my signature campaign platform as I’ve been supervisor,” said Veitch.
Veitch said Saratoga County is still the lowest taxed county in New York State and Veitch said it’s his goal as supervisor to keep Saratoga County that way.
Stafford, a longtime Saratoga Springs businessman and United States Army veteran, said his love for the city grows every day.
“I’m totally committed to make a positive difference and to look forward to use my many years of experience in business and public service to fully represent all the citizens of Saratoga