Saratoga Springs GOP taps three to run in city
Safford for mayor, Coll for public safety, Veitch for supervisor
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Republican Committee will back three candidates in November’s races.
The committee will support John Safford for mayor, Tim Coll for commissioner of public safety and longtime incumbent Matthew Veitch for Saratoga County supervisor.
“While the current City Council and Democratic Committee consume themselves with politics and petty squabbles, the Saratoga Springs Republican Committee remains focused on what really matters: delivering candidates who will provide effective, competent and transparent government for the residents of Saratoga Springs,” Chairman Michael Brandi said.
Safford, a Vietnam War veteran, has spent his career as a small-business entrepreneur and manager with condo and homeowner associations. He is the veterans chairperson of the Saratoga/wilton Elks 161, a member of the Pine Grove Community Church, the American Legion Post 70 and the Italian American War Veterans. He would run against incumbent Democrat Ron Kim or Chris Mathiesen, who is challenging Kim in a primary.
Coll, a former FBI agent, spent 30 years in law enforcement, serving on the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Albany. A registered Democrat, Coll also served in Iraq on a special assignment, tasked with returning kidnapped American soldiers. He would run against incumbent Democrat Jim Montagnino.
Veitch is running for his ninth term as supervisor. Since 2008, he has secured county funds for many projects including the city’s third fire station and nonprofits. He also started the County Trails funding program which has, to date, distributed more than $500,000 to support county trails and accessible public lands.
He would run against Democrat Gordon Boyd and independent candidate Michele Madigan.