Saratoga County GOP announces County candidates
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Surrounded by Republican County Board of Supervisors, candidates and supporters, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, Clerk Craig Hayner, Surrogate Court Judge Richard Kupferman and Coroner Susan Hayes-Masa, recently announced their reelection campaigns at the Saratoga Springs Casino and Hotel.
“Saratoga County Republicans are united in their continued drive to deliver results for the residents of Saratoga County,” Carl Zeilman, Chairman of the Saratoga County Republican Committee, remarked.
“Sheriff Mike Zurlo, County Clerk Craig Hayner, Surrogate Judge Richard Kupferman and Coroner Susan Hayes-Masa have all followed through on their promises to deliver for the people of Saratoga County and I am proud to stand here in support of their re-election,” Zeilman explained.
First elected in 2012, Richard Kupferman, 59, is seeking his second term as Saratoga County Surrogate Court Judge.
“It has been my honor and privilege to have served this community for the last nine years as your Surrogate’s Court Judge,” Kupferman stated. “Additionally, I have also served as an Acting Supreme Court Justice for the Fourth Judicial District for the last seven years.
Kupferman has resided in Saratoga County for more than 50 years and has more than 20 years of legal service to Saratoga County and several of its municipalities.
Craig Hayner, 53, has been County Clerk since 2014. His focus as County Clerk has been striving for service excellence and advancing the capabilities of the offices he oversees. Under his leadership the Saratoga County Clerk’s Office and the Saratoga County DMV have seen a 12.4% overall increase in revenue.
Together, the offices have contributed approximately 7.5 million dollars to the County, positively impacting the county budget.
“My administration has invested in new offices, significant upgrades in technology and, most importantly, we have invested in our people and in the services we provide to the more than 200,000 people we serve each year,” Hayner commented.
“Through embracing technology, focusing on customer service, and investing in staff development, these offices are shining examples of what can happen when you combine good government practices with a mission that puts people first. I am truly blessed to have so many talented, hardworking people throughout the organization,” Hayner continued.
“To the good people of Saratoga County, I have been honored to serve as your County Clerk and humbly ask for your support for re-election this November so we may continue our philosophy of putting people first in government,” Hayner added.
Hayner is a lifelong resident of the town of Halfmoon, where he resides with his wife, Carolyn. They have four grown children.
Michael Zurlo, 67, a Saratoga County native was first elected as Sheriff in 2013. Prior to that, he served 31 years as a member of the sheriff’s office holding the positions of senior investigator, patrol deputy, criminal investigator, sergeant, and lieutenant. He has also served on the bench as the Town Justice in the Town of Stillwater before stepping down in 2013.
“As your sheriff, my goal always has been and always will be to keep our communities safe across Saratoga County. The County is continually recognized as one of the safest counties in the State and I am laser focused to keep it that way,” Zurlo stated.
Zurlo noted several achievements during his first two terms as sheriff to include strengthening interoperability among Fire, Police and EMS agencies by implementing a state-of-the-art computer aid dispatch and mobile E-91-1 system that decreased response times to those in need; expanding the school resource officer program and coordinated the designbuild of the county’s new public safety facility that now houses the county’s office of emergency services, public health, probation and sheriff’s office.
“During the next four years my team and I will remain focused on community safety by expanding our community outreach to our youth, veterans and seniors by integrating deputies further into the communities we serve to get feedback from the residents needs in ‘real-time’ and building upon the technological advancements that will allow us to keep up with the rapid changing 21st Century needs. Additionally, we will aggressively promote the Sheriff’s Office participation in Capital Region Crime Stoppers, so community members know they have a resource to pass along crime tips anonymously,” Zurlo explained.
Zurlo resides in the town of Halfmoon with his wife, Jane. They have two adult children.
Running for a third term, Susan Hayes-Masa, 66, of Saratoga Springs, was first elected as Saratoga County Coroner in 2013. Working for the Coroner’s Office since 1995, Susan is accredited by the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners, and a certified surgical technician who has completed the Medical Examiner/Coroner 101 course.
She retired as Director of Donor Services with the Lions Eye Bank after 22 years of service.
“Helping a family through the most difficult of times and helping them navigate through the fog of their grief is a very humbling experience. I humbly ask the residents of Saratoga County for their trust and support to serve another 4 years,” HayesMasa said.
Zeilman noted Democrats remain focused on issues of defunding local law enforcement and have shown they are more interested in politics, providing cover to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his sexual harassment allegations and his nursing home coverup by remaining silent when it comes to calling on the rescinding of the governor’s emergency powers.
“Democrats have shown that they are more interested in playing politics over what is best for Saratoga County residents, while the Saratoga County Republican team remains committed to delivering real results for residents and business owners. Faced with the COVID19 Pandemic, Saratoga County ended 2020 without taking on debt, without exhausting cash reserves and without raising taxes. This does not happen by chance. This is the result of responsible Republican leadership and fiscal prudence at the town level. This is what leadership looks like,” Zeilman added.