Wirth running for Public Safety
Former Spa City commissioner announces bid for position
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Richard Wirth wants his old job back.
Wirth, the former city Public Safety commissioner, announced his run for office Thursday evening in Congress Park.
“This campaign is about keeping the public safe and giving the Saratogians the peace of mind that they deserve,” Wirth said during his campaign announcement.
Current Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen, a Democrat, narrowly defeated Wirth, a Republican, for the position in 2011 after Wirth had been in office for one term.
In his remarks Thursday, Wirth was critical of Mathiesen’s tenure as commissioner and said it has contributed to a rise in crime downtown and hurt local businesses.
“The current commissioner is stuck in his ways and is on a personal campaign to change the city for the worse,” Wirth said.
He pledged to run a clean campaign, however, and said he had complete respect for all candidates
in the political arena.
During the two years Wirth has been out of office, the former commissioner said he’s been following City Council meetings and keeping up with the issues. He works as a private investigator.
Wirth said he can lead the city’s Public Safety Department with “common- sense leadership” and that when he was in office previously, he “did more with less.”
He added he would not go down the same path as Mathiesen by crusading for an earlier last call at city drinking establishments and said he instead would like to see the public and local businesses more involved in dealing with late-night issues.
Wirth said he would not automatically reinstate his former deputy, Frank Dudla, but rather take out an advertisement in the newspaper and interview qualified applicants.