Dalton to run with no party affiliation
Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton announced on Thursday that she will seek re-election in November with no party affiliation.
Dalton, who is currently serving in her first term on the Saratoga Springs City Council, ran in 2019 as a Republican candidate.
The commissioner, in a press release, called her new campaign a “community first” approach.
“My experience living in Saratoga Springs has reaffirmed my belief that it is the unique passion and dedication of Saratogians that has made our ‘City in the Country’ such a remarkable place to live,” she said in the release. “In my role as Public Safety Commissioner, whether at the City Council table or in conversations with constituents, my decisions have always been based on my commitment to good governance, honesty, and a persistent search for common ground.”
Dalton said that in the last few years she has struggled to find the value of party politics and partisanship in the city. “Fortunately, in my run for office in 2019, I joined other like-minded candidates who prioritized city over party,” she said in the release.
“Now having served the City
for over a year, I remain committed to representing a wide diversity of thought and to giving voice to every resident in fulfilling my role as an elected public servant,” Dalton continued. “To that end, after much careful consideration, I have decided to run for reelection with no party affiliation at this time.”
Dalton added that she remains deeply grateful for all of the support she has received from the City Republican Committee in her first year in office and hopes to continue to build on that trust in the coming months as she seeks a second term as Commissioner of Public Safety.
The Saratoga Springs Republican Committee released a statement on Thursday afternoon in response to Dalton’s announcement. “Unfortunately, Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton is too focused on national politics when the safety of our community should be her paramount concern,” chairman Chris Obstarczyk said. “To stereotype and paint all Republicans, including police and fire personnel in her own department, in such broad strokes as racist, intolerant and hateful is offensive, divisive, tone-deaf and untrue.
“Ironically, the Republican Party is the party of tolerance and its mission is not set on censoring opposing viewpoints or engaging in cancel culture.
“Saratoga Springs Republicans are focused on issues that affect Saratogians as reflected in our platform. We are committed to keeping Saratoga Springs the great place to work, live, raise a family and visit that it is and will support a candidate that is focused on their job and backs our first responders including police and fire.”