EYES ON CITY HALL
Four candidates look to become next Saratoga Springs mayor
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The city of Saratoga Springs is getting a new mayor in 2022, and voters will soon decide which candidate will hold that title.
Four mayoral candidates are listed on the ballot for Saratoga Springs residents. They are Robin O. Dalton on the Saratoga Stronger Together line; Ronald J. Kim on the Democratic and Resilient Saratoga lines, Maxwell S. Rosenbaum on the Working Families line and Heidi Owen West on the Republican and Conservative lines.
Current Mayor Meg Kelly announced earlier this year that she would not seek reelection for a third term.
The Saratogian invited the four mayoral candidates to participate in a Q&A. The following are the responses from Dalton, Kim and Owen West. The other candidate, Rosenbaum, did not respond.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Dalton: “I am a wife and mother of four wonderful children. I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in government, I am a passionate community volunteer, and proud to currently serve as Saratoga Springs first female Public Safety Commissioner.”
Kim: “My name is Ron Kim. I’m proud to have lived and worked in Saratoga Springs for nearly 30 years. I’ve dedicated my life to standing up for and serving others, both in city government as Commissioner of Public Safety and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, and in my career as a civil rights and consumer protection attorney helping regular people fight back against predatory lenders and workplace discrimination.”
Owen West: “It is my honor to be running for Saratoga Springs Mayor in such challenging times. I am truly committed to serving the residents of Saratoga Springs by implementing real solutions through listening and finding common ground on the issues. The experience I have in business
Four mayoral candidates are listed on the ballot for Saratoga Springs residents. They are Robin O. Dalton on the Saratoga Stronger Together line; Ronald J. Kim on the Democratic and Resilient Saratoga lines, Maxwell S. Rosenbaum on the Working Families line and Heidi Owen West on the Republican and Conservative lines.
ownership, not for profit, and community collaboration enables me to lead Saratoga Springs in the right direction.
“Many know me through my businesses in Downtown Saratoga, but my roots run much deeper than owning businesses. As a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, I have spent over thirty years actively engaged in Saratoga Springs.”
2. Why did you want to run for this position?
Dalton: “I am running for Mayor because I believe we need someone who knows first hand the challenges the city is facing now and to use my experience leading the pandemic response and work on fire EMS station No. 3 to lead the council through the end of the pandemic and ensure the completion of important projects. I believe we are one city, with one future and know from listening to our community that Saratoga is ready to elect candidates that are not sponsored by political parties, but powered by the people. We need to bring back common sense decision making to politics, civility and building consensus versus giving in to a culture of outrage.”
Kim: “In recent years, our city has seen a complete breakdown of trust between public officials and the residents they represent. I believe new leadership is needed to bring our city together. My years of experience in city government and listening to and standing up for others make me the right choice to lead our city in this time of division and discord.”
Owen West: “The desire to serve this City in a higher capacity has always been a priority, but 2020 really challenged all business owners of every type, as well as every Saratoga resident. Our City’s strength is being tested on so many levels and our future is dependent on electing a capable leader who can truly represent all residents of Saratoga Springs.”
3. Why do you believe you’re the best candidate for this position?
Dalton: “Having been the Public Safety Commissioner over the past two years I strongly believe that my experience is fresh, real, and relevant. Shortly after being sworn into office I was informed that per our City charter I was in charge of our pandemic response, which caused not only a health crisis but a financial crisis as well. During this time the Public Safety Department acted with extraordinary outreach, communication, and coordination. As Commissioner I brought and passed legislation to safeguard our public health, and when the city was faced with numerous layoffs of firefighters and police officers I worked with the council to save every job and am proud to have worked to actually grow our department as we recovered from the pandemic. I believe we do not have time for a learning curve and I will be ready on day one.”
Kim: “I am the only candidate in this race with both the experience to competently lead our city government and the patience to listen to residents and keep that government accountable to the people of Saratoga Springs. In this crucial time for our city, we cannot afford to turn the Mayor’s office over to someone without experience in local government or to someone tainted by the missteps of the current City Council. I will bring both experience and a fresh perspective to the table, so we can deliver Saratogians the accountable, transparent, and effective governance they deserve.”
Owen West: “My motivation to run for Mayor is centered on improving the economic, social and community health of our city. We have to rise above politics and work together! The only way we’re going to meet the daunting challenges ahead of us is having leadership in city hall that knows what it’s like to pour your heart and soul into the community that you love. I’ve been doing that as a business owner and community leader for over 30 years.
“I’m running for Mayor to make sure our community, our shops and restaurants — and their dedicated employees — continue to rebuild and grow into the future. I believe a private-sector mindset from someone who truly understands how to operate a small business, and understands customer service, would be incredibly beneficial in city hall and to our residents.”
4. What do you think the biggest issues facing the community are right now?
Dalton: “The biggest issues I believe our community is facing at the moment is one communication to and from city hall and the accessibility of city services. I also believe that we need to re-establish trust between the police and the community. One step I have taken is through the 2022 Comprehensive Budget, establishing a community engagement division. The city also must continue improving our infrastructure and protecting our greenbelt.”
Kim: “The biggest issue facing our community right now is the lack of trust and dialogue between residents and public officials. This issue lies at the root of all other problems facing our city. When public officials are unwilling to listen directly to residents about their concerns, and when residents feel like their voices won’t be heard, it is impossible to work together and find solutions that work for all Saratogians. Only by starting a dialogue and listening to residents can we begin to address the real issues Saratogians deal with every day, like our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, our lack of affordable housing, and our crumbling infrastructure.”
Owen West: “Bolstering and protecting our city’s recreation department; strengthening public safety; expanding green and open space preservation; streamlining and modernizing our zoning and approval processes; addressing the homeless issue in a responsible and compassionate way; focus on customer service for our residents.”
5. What would you hope to achieve during your first 100 days in office?
Dalton: “I have clear and realistic plans as to what I hope to achieve for the citizens of Saratoga Springs. In my first 3 months as Mayor I will be extremely focused on ensuring the groundbreaking, construction and staffing of the third fire and ems station. Moreover, I would reach out to all non-profits in our area and hold a meeting to hear their needs and how we can maximize impact on our community through nonprofit funding handled by the mayor’s department. I would also lead a post action report on the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and where we can improve to be more resilient and prepared for the future. Additionally, establishing convenient, accessible, and consistent channels of communication between city hall and the public, and make it easier for citizens to access essential services.”
Kim: “During my first 100 days in office, I would hope to start a real dialogue between City Hall and Saratogians. I’d hold regular listening sessions in neighborhoods across the city, and turn our City Council meetings back into venues for open, civil debate. After hearing directly from residents, I’d get to work on my plans to make our city work for everyone. I’d work directly with local businesses and residents to develop an emergency plan for future crises and take measures to promote sustainability by protecting our greenbelt and putting forward a plan to make our city carbon-neutral by 2030. I’d also work directly with state and federal officials to secure stimulus funds for badly needed infrastructure projects like new bicycle lanes, road repair, and new affordable housing. We can work together to build a city government that works, and I’ll be ready on day one to begin that effort.”
Owen West: “City Hall should be supporting and lifting up the small business community any way they can. They should be our biggest cheerleaders and supporters. City Hall should work with local civic organizations that do so much for our city. The more we can build a positive and healthy relationship with those organizations, the stronger and more of a thriving economy we’ll have. We also have to make sure we are there and fully support our flagship tourist attractions.
“Bringing people to the plate in search of solutions. I’ve been doing this for over 30 years as a small business owner. If the solution is the goal, then you have to put the steps in place to get there. You have to put the right people in place to help achieve that goal. You have to motivate and inspire. Professionalism at all levels will be a hallmark of my tenure as Mayor.”